Today, the shrine located at the east end of Shijō-dōri is well known by its name of Yasaka Shrine, being one of the most popular shrines in Kyoto.

However, this name is relatively new compared to the shrine’s long history. It was originally kown as Gion-sha, a name derived from a Buddhist deity enshrined here, and after the shrine’s name, the entire district was also known as Gion. During the middle of the 19th century, the shrine was renamed Yasaka-jinja, however many Kyoto residents are still calling it Gion-san.

Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Simply beautiful Japanese scenes, night view from Osaka Sakishima observatory