Gokonomiya Shrine, Gokosui

The information about Gokonomiya Shrine is presented here. Gokonomiya Shrine has Gokosui from which the shrine’s name is derived. It is said that in 862, Gokosui suddenly bubbled up from the grounds of Gokonomiya Shrine. Gokosui is said to have been used in the birth baths of Tokugawa Yoshinao, the 9th son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Tokugawa Yorinobu, the 1st generation of the Kishu Tokugawa clan, and Tokugawa Yorifusa, the 1st generation of the Mito Tokugawa clan. Gokosui is counted as one of the top 100 famous waters. Gokosui (Ishii) was counted as one of the Seven Famous Waters of Fushimi along with Shiragikui, Tokiwai, Kasugai, Takenaka Shimizu, Tanaka Shimizu, and Koke Shimizu, but it withered up in the Meiji period (1868-1912). Gokosui was later restored in 1982.

• Shrine Location Map ＆ Directions
• Shrine History
• Shrine Highlights

【Gokonomiya Shrine Location Map ＆ Directions】

Address: 174 Gokonomiya Monzen-machi, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): JR Momoyama Station (about 10 minutes on foot), Keihan Fushimi Momoyama Station (about 7 minutes on foot), Kintetsu Momoyama Goryomae Station (about 5 minutes on foot)

【Opening Hours ＆ Closed (confirmation required)】

Opening Hours: 9:00-16:00
Closed: open year round

【Entrance Fees ＆ Tickets (confirmation required)】

Individual (Stone garden): Adults 200 yen, Students 150 yen

【Gokonomiya Shrine History】

The site of Gokonomiya Shrine (御香宮神社) was built is said to be the place where Gokonomiya Haiji Temple was built around the late Asuka period (592-710). Tiles and other artifacts have been excavated from the site of Gokonomiya Shrine. The year of foundation of Gokonomiya Shrine is unknown, and Gokonomiya Shrine was originally called Mimoro Shrine (御諸神社). According to “Tsuginefu” written by Kitamura Kigin, Gokonomiya Shrine was founded to worship the main deity, Empress Jingu, who was invited from Kashiigu Shrine in Tsukushi Province (Fukuoka). Kashiigu Shrine is said to have originated in the year 200, when Empress Jingu personally built a hokora (shrine) and enshrined the divine spirit of the 14th Emperor Chuai, who died at Kashihi-no-miya (palace) in Tsukushi Province. It is said that there was an oracle of Empress Jingong on February 6th, 723, and the construction of a byo (mausoleum) began, and Kashiigu Shrine was established as a mausoleum on December 20th, 724. On September 9th, 862, a fragrant water gushed out from the base of a castanopsis tree in the grounds of Gokonomiya Shrine, and the 56th Emperor Seiwa gave it the name “Gokonomiya”. It is also said that the shrine buildings were restored by the imperial decree of Emperor Seiwa. It is said that Gokonomiya Shrine was already founded in the early Heian period (710-794). In the middle of the Heian period (794-1185), Gokonomiya Shrine was written as “Mimoro Shrine” in the “Engishiki Jinmeicho”, and Gokonomiya Shrine was listed as a shikinai-sha (shrine). It is said that after the Kamakura period (1185-1333), the shrine site of Gokonomiya Shrine was located in the territory of Choko-do Temple, and Gokonomiya Shrine was under the protection of the Fushimi-no-miya family. It is said that the 91st Emperor Go-Uda dedicated offerings to Gokonomiya Shrine during the Genko incident in the middle of the Kamakura period. It is said that Fushimi-no-miya Sadafusa worshipped at Gokonomiya Shrine during the Nanbokucho period (1337-1392). Mikamiya Shrine was destroyed by military fire during the Onin War (1467-1477) in the middle of the Muromachi period (1336-1573). In 1590, Toyotomi Hideyoshi dedicated a petition and a sword with golden noshi to Gokonomiya Shrine and prayed for it. When Toyotomi Hideyoshi built Fushimi Castle in the Azuchi Momoyama period (1573-1603), he moved Gokonomiya Shrine inside Fushimi Castle as the guardian deity of the demon gate. Toyotomi Hideyoshi also donated 300 koku of the shrine’s territory. Fushimi Castle was originally built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1592, when he transferred the position of the Kanpaku to his nephew Toyotomi Hidetsugu, and built a retirement residence in Fushimi Shigetsu, which had been a famous place to view the moon since the Heian period. In 1593, Toyotomi Hideyori was born, and in order to hand over Osaka Castle to Toyotomi Hideyori, a large-scale renovation of his retirement residence began, and in 1594, the castle town was developed, and the mansions of the vassals and daimyo were built. However, the building collapsed during the Keicho-Fushimi earthquake of 1596. After that, Fushimi Castle was rebuilt by moving to Mt. Kobata-yama, which is about 500 meters to the north, and the castle tower was completed in May 1597, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi moved in. But Toyotomi Hideyoshi died at Fushimi Castle on August 18th, 1598. In 1605, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the 1st shogun of the Edo shogunate, moved Gokonomiya Shrine to its original location and built Honden (Main Shrine) with Itakura Katsushige, the chief magistrate of Kyoto, as the fushin-bugyo. Tokugawa Ieyasu also donated 300 koku of land for the shrine. In the early Edo period, Tokugawa Ieyasu’s 9th son, Tokugawa Yoshinao, 10th son, Tokugawa Yorinobu, and 11th son, Tokugawa Yorifusa, were born, and Gokosui was used as a birthwater. It is said that in 1622, Tokugawa Yorifusa donated the Ohte-mon Gate of Fushimi Castle and built Omote-mon gate of Gokonomiya Shrine. In 1625, Haiden was built by the donation of Tokugawa Yorinobu. When the Fushimi Toba-no-tatakai (Battle) occurred in 1868, Gokonomiya Shrine became a military base for the Satsuma-han (domain). The shogunate forces (Aizu-han (domain) and Shinsen-gumi), whose headquarters was the Fushimi Magistrate’s Office located on the south side of Takeda Kaido (highway), were bombarded and fell, but Gokonomiya Shrine escaped the fire of the battle. In 1982, Gokosui, which had withered after the Meiji period (1868-1912), was restored, and in January 1985 it was selected as one of the Meisui Hyaku-sen (the 100 best waters).
*reference・・・Gokonomiya Shrine website

【Gokonomiya Shrine Highlights (May be undisclosed)】

★Honden (Main Shrine, 本殿, Important Cultural Property) was rebuilt in 1605 by Itakura Katsushige, the chief magistrate of Kyoto, by the order of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the 1st shogun of the Edo shogunate, as a fushin-bugyo (official in charge of building construction). In Honden, Empress Jingu is the main deity, and the 14th Emperor Chuai, the 15th Emperor Ojin, the 16th Emperor Nintoku, Kora Daimyojin, Ube Daimyojin, Takimatsuri-no-kami, Kawakami Daimyojin, Ujinowakinoiratsuko-no-mikoto, and Shiragiku Daimyojin are the soden deities.
★Omote-mon (Omote-mon Gate, 表門, Important Cultural Property) was built in 1622 by moving the Ohte-mon Gate of Fushimi Castle with the donation of Tokugawa Yorifusa. Omote-mon has sculptures of Chugoku Nijushiko (China) such as Yoko, Kakkyo, Tofujin, and Moso.
★Haiden (拝殿) was built in 1625 with a donation from Tokugawa Yorinobu. Haiden is said to have been the Kurumayose of Fushimi Castle.
★The garden (庭園) was restored by landscape architect Nakane Kinsaku in 1957. By the way, the garden was originally created in 1623 by Kobori Enshu within the Fushimi Magistrate’s Office, but after the Meiji period (1868-1912) it was used as a camp by the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Army. When it became a city residential area in 1957, it was moved to Gokonomiya Shrine.
御香宮神社見どころ (Gokonomiya Shrine Highlights)

【Events (confirmation required)】

★Gokonomiya Shinko (御香宮神幸祭) is held every year from the Saturday nine days before the second Sunday of October. At Gokonomiya Shinko, Hanagasa Sosanguu is held on the Saturday night, the day before the first and last days, and a parade is carried through Otesuji, which is said to be the busiest downtown area in Fushimi. On the last day, three mikoshi (portable shrines), male and female lions, etc. are paraded through the shrine parishioners’ district.

【Flower Calendar (cherry blossoms, etc )】

★The best time to see cherry blossoms (桜) is from early April to mid-April. Cherry blossom trees such as Yoko, Somei Yoshino, Beni Shidare-zakura, and Yama-zakura are planted on the shrine grounds, and it is said that the scenery of the cherry blossoms, Honden, Omote-mon, and the approach to the shrine is said to be beautiful.
(The best time to see the plants depends on the climate of the year.)

【Telephone (Please refrain from making phone calls.)】

Tel: +81-75-611-0559

【Recommended Walking Route】

The recommended walking route from Gokonomiya Shrine is to Fushimi Castle. It is a 20-minute walk to Fushimi Castle. There are also Daiko-ji Temple and Terada-ya near Gokonomiya Shrine, so it might be a good idea to take a walk around them. There are not many tourist spots around Gokonomiya Shrine, so it might be a good idea to go to the next tourist spot and take a walk around it.

【Remarks（access, parking, disclaimer, etc）】
If you plan to visit Gokonomiya Shrine, be sure to check the latest information.