Yuki Shrine, Kurama Fire Festival

The information about Yuki Shrine is presented here. Kurama Fire Festival (Kurama-no-Himatsuri), a festival at Yuki Shrine, dates back to the time when the deity enshrined in the Imperial Palace was transferred to Yuki Shrine, and torches were made from reeds growing in the Kamo-gawa River to welcome the deity. Kurama Fire Festival is considered one of Kyoto’s Sandai Kisai (three strange festivals), along with the Yasurai Matsuri (Imamiya Shrine) and the Ushi Matsuri (Osake Shrine, Koyu-ji Temple).

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

【Yuki Shrine Location Map ＆ Directions】

Address: 1073 Kurama Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Kurama station (about 15 minutes on foot)

【Opening Hours ＆ Closed (confirmation required)】

Opening Hours: 9:00～16:30 (Kurama-dera Temple)
Closed: open year round

【Entrance Fees ＆ Tickets (confirmation required)】

Individual: Free (Yuki Shrine is located within the precincts of Kurama-dera Temple, and an entrance fee is required. Adults 500 yen)

【Yuki Shrine History】

Yuki Shrine (由岐神社, Yuki Myojin, 靫明神) is said to have been founded in 940. A major earthquake occurred in 938, the Taira no Masakado-no-Ran (Tegyo-no-no-Ran) occurred in 939, and in 940, Ohonamuchi no Mikoto and Sukunahikona no Mikoto, who had been enshrined in the Imperial Palace, were moved to Kurama as the god of the Kurama area and the god of the protection of the northern region by order of the 51st Emperor Suzaku. The name “Yuki Myojin” comes from the fact that when the emperor was ill or faced a national crisis, a type of weapon called “Yuki” with an arrow inside was offered to the shrine. Later, in 1607, Toyotomi Hideyori, the son of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, rebuilt Honden (the main shrine) and Haiden. Yuki Shrine is the guardian shrine of Kurama-dera Temple.
★According to the temple legend, Kurama-dera Temple (鞍馬寺) was founded in 770 by Gantei-shonin, a disciple of Ganjin-wajo, the founder of the Ritsu sect, who built a hermitage to enshrine Bishamonten. It is also said that when Gantei-shonin climbed Mt. Kurama-yama under dream announcement of tiger day and the guidance of a white horse, he was attacked by a demon woman and was saved by Bishamonten.
*参考・・・Yuki Shrine website

【Yuki Shrine Highlights (May be undisclosed)】

★Honden (本殿) was rebuilt by Toyotomi Hideyori in 1607. Honden enshrines Ohonamuchi no Mikoto and Sukunahikona no Mikoto, and Hasho daimyojin is enshrined in Soden.
★Haiden (拝殿, Important Cultural Property) was rebuilt by Toyotomi Hideyori in 1607. Divided into two parts with a central passageway on each side, Haiden is a representative building of the Aduchi Momoyama period (1573-1600).
★The cedar tree (杉) is the sacred cedar tree, which is about 800 years old and about 53 meters high. The sacred cedar tree has long been known as “Osugi-san”, and it is believed that if you make a single-minded wish, your wish will come true.

【Events (confirmation required)】

★Kurama Fire Festival (Kurama-no-Himatsuri, 鞍馬の火祭) is held every year on October 22nd. At Kurama Fire Festival, with the signal of “Shinji ni mairashare”, bonfires piled up in the houses are lit, and boys carrying sho-taimatsu (small torch) parade around, joined by adults carrying dai-taimatsu (large torch), and head toward Otabisho, repeatedly chanting “sairei, sairyo (festival)”.
由岐神社鞍馬の火祭 (Kurama Fire Festival)

【Flower Calendar (cherry blossoms, etc )】

★The best time to see autumn leaves (紅葉) is around mid-November. Maple trees and other trees are distributed in the precinct, and it is said that the scenery of the autumn leaves, Honden, Haiden, and three cedar trees is beautiful.
(The best time to see the plants depends on the climate of the year.)

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

Tel: +81-75-741-1670

【Recommended Walking Route】

The recommended walking route from Yuki Shrine is to take a walk to Kurama-dera Temple on the north side. If you take a walk for about 20 minutes, you can get to Kurama-dera Temple while feeling the nature of Kurama. Yuki Shrine is quite far from downtown and there are not many sightseeing spots in the area, so it may be better to go to the nearest sightseeing spot and take a walk around the area.

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