Waratenjin Shrine
Kinkakuji, Kyoto
Source: waratenjin.com, checked 11 Oct 2026.
Waratenjin, formally Shikichi Jinja, is the shrine people visit to pray for a safe birth. Its charm holds a piece of straw, and the old saying goes that a knot in the straw means a boy and no knot means a girl. The shrine believes it was founded before Kyoto became the capital.
Insider tip
The grounds are free. Charms are given out at the shrine office from 8:30 to 17:00 every day, and you don't need to book. On the first Sunday in April there's archery and a mikoshi procession. The autumn festival, on the last Sunday of October (25 October in 2026), has kyogen and a tea seat.
What's on near Waratenjin Shrine
Upcoming events within a ten-minute walk of Waratenjin Shrine, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Meigetsu-sai at Hirano Shrine
名月祭（平野神社）
Time Rite 18:30, performances from 19:00 Station Kinugasako-mae bus stop (City Bus)
A harvest moon rite at 18:30, then folk song, dance, koto, shakuhachi and gagaku from 19:00, with matcha served for a fee.
lienyuan lee, CC BY 3.0 Okasai Cherry Blossom Festival at Hirano Shrine
桜花祭（平野神社）
Time Rite 10:00, procession 13:00, back about 15:00 Station Kinugasako-mae bus stop (City Bus 50, 205), 3 min walk
A procession of about 200 people in period costume, weaving maidens and a column of court poets among them, leaves the shrine at 13:00 and tours the neighbourhood. It's held on 10 April every year.
lienyuan lee, CC BY 3.0 Tenjin-ichi Market at Kitano Tenmangu
天神市（北野天満宮）
Time All day, lanterns lit from sunset Station Kitano-Hakubaicho (Randen Kitano Line), 5 min walk
The 25th is Kitano Tenmangu's monthly fair day, and stalls line the approach all day. From sunset the shrine lights its 350 stone and 250 hanging lanterns, and 25 January and 25 December are the busiest of the year, with about a thousand stalls.
z tanuki, CC BY 3.0 Plum Garden at Kitano Tenmangu
梅苑「花の庭」公開（北野天満宮）
Station Kitano Tenmangu-mae bus stop (City Bus 50), right by the stop
The shrine has about 1,500 plum trees of 50 kinds, and it opens its plum garden, with a tea stall and a viewing deck, while they flower. Opening depends on the blossom, usually early February, and the garden stays open to late March.
z tanuki, CC BY 3.0 Baikasai Plum Blossom Festival
梅花祭（北野天満宮）
Time Tea ceremony 10:00 to 15:00 Station Kitano Tenmangu-mae bus stop (City Bus 50), right by the stop
On the anniversary of Sugawara no Michizane's death, Kamishichiken's geiko and maiko serve matcha at an outdoor tea ceremony in the plum garden. It's also the 25th, so the Tenjin-san market fills the approach.
z tanuki, CC BY 3.0 Nearby
Around Kinkakuji
Three World Heritage temples on one road under Mount Kinugasa
Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji and Ninna-ji all sit on Kinukake-no-Michi, a road that climbs about 2.5 km from Omuro-Ninnaji Station up to the Golden Pavilion. Start at Ryoan-ji, which opens at 8:00 from March to November, an hour before Kinkaku-ji. South of the road, Myoshin-ji's grounds don't close at all, and they hold more than 40 subtemples.
Kinkakuji has 14 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 9 shrines and temples, 2 museums, 1 cafe, 1 restaurant and 1 viewpoint. Read the Kinkakuji guide.
Good to know
- What is the address of Waratenjin Shrine?
- 10 Kinugasa Tenjinmori-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市北区衣笠天神森町10).
- How do I get to Waratenjin Shrine?
- The nearest station is Waratenjin-mae bus stop (City Bus 204, 205). Waratenjin Shrine is in Kinkakuji, Kyoto.
- How much does Waratenjin Shrine cost?
- Nothing. Waratenjin Shrine is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Waratenjin Shrine?
- Plan for 15 min.
- When is the best time to visit Waratenjin Shrine?
- Last Sunday of October.
Stay near Waratenjin Shrine
Browse live availability and compare prices around Kinkakuji.
See hotels near Waratenjin Shrine on Booking.comPrices are for the night of Saturday 17 October. You can change the dates on Booking.com. If you book, Roam Kyoto earns a small commission from Stay22 at no extra cost to you.