Kumano Shrine

Kumano Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located near Kyoto University Hospital and the Okazaki cultural district. Dedicated to the deities of the famous Kumano Sanzan shrines in Wakayama Prefecture, it has long been a place where people pray for good health, protection from misfortune, and safe journeys.

Although surrounded by busy city streets, the shrine offers a calm and welcoming atmosphere. Its vermilion shrine buildings, ancient camphor trees, and symbols of the sacred three-legged crow, Yatagarasu, make it a pleasant stop while exploring eastern Kyoto.

History

Kumano Shrine was founded in 1160 by order of the retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa, who was a devoted supporter of Kumano worship. Rather than traveling all the way to the sacred Kumano mountains, people in Kyoto could visit this shrine to pray to the same deities.

The shrine enshrines Izanami-no-Mikoto, Hayatama-no-O-no-Mikoto, and Kotosaka-no-O-no-Mikoto, the principal deities of the Kumano Sanzan. For more than eight centuries, it has served as a local guardian shrine and remains especially popular for prayers related to health, recovery, and protection.

Highlights

Shrine of the Kumano Deities

Visit one of Kyoto’s most important shrines dedicated to the sacred Kumano Sanzan.

Yatagarasu Symbols

Look for amulets and goshuin featuring the legendary three-legged crow, the divine messenger of Kumano.

Prayers for Good Health

Many visitors pray here for recovery from illness, good health, and protection, especially because of the shrine’s proximity to Kyoto University Hospital.

Ancient Camphor Trees

Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere created by the shrine’s large, centuries-old camphor trees.

Local Kyoto Atmosphere

Experience a historic neighborhood shrine that remains closely connected to the daily lives of Kyoto residents.

Visit Tips

The shrine can be comfortably explored in about 20 to 30 minutes. If you collect goshuin or Japanese amulets, be sure to visit the shrine office, where Yatagarasu-themed designs are among the most popular.

Kumano Shrine is within easy walking distance of Heian Shrine, the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, and Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art. It also pairs well with a walk through the Yoshida and Okazaki areas for a quieter side of Kyoto beyond the city’s busiest tourist destinations.