What other travelers are saying about Lanterns at Kifune-jinja Shrine
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A hidden gem in Kyoto – my favorite spot of the entire trip!
Kifune Shrine is hands down the most memorable and meaningful place I visited during my winter trip to Kyoto. Nestled halfway up a mountain and surrounded by dense forest, the shrine offers an incredibly fresh and peaceful atmosphere that feels far removed from the busy tourist sites in central Kyoto.
Getting there isn’t the easiest—it requires taking the subway and then two buses from the city center—but that’s exactly what makes this place so special. Because of the more challenging access, it’s not crowded with international tourists, especially large tour groups from China, which unfortunately tend to overwhelm many other Kyoto landmarks and often leave behind trash. In contrast, Kifune Shrine remains pristine and uncrowded, preserving its natural beauty and serenity.
Even in winter, the landscape here is breathtaking. A small, crystal-clear stream runs down from the mountain right next to the shrine, adding to the peaceful, sacred atmosphere. The locals clearly take great care of the environment, and everything feels clean and well-respected.
If you’re looking for a truly peaceful, spiritual, and scenic escape from the tourist crowds of Kyoto, this is the place. I can’t recommend it highly enough—it was the highlight of my trip!
I really love this shrine! The entire place is surrounded by nature. The weather was perfect on the day we visited.
The shrine is divided into several sections, and the farthest one requires a bit of a walk to reach. However, there are restrooms and plenty of drink vending machines along the way (with lots of unique Japanese-style beverages! A friendly warning though… some of them are *very* sweet—choose carefully. The lemon and grape ones are the safest bets! The red bean one… well, let’s just say it’s an acquired taste. The chocolate one was okay, though!).
On our way up the mountain, we also passed by a gallery that sells souvenirs (their solid perfumes smell especially wonderful! They also sell other cosmetics, jewelry, etc... Highly recommended to visit!).
visited during tanabata festival! such a wonderful place. wrote my wishes down and hung it up. the shrine has a peaceful aura and is the only place in Japan where u can get your fortune read through a water-based approach!
Beautiful mountain hike. Can be hot in summer past 9am. River restaurants open at 11am. The Kifune shrine is divided in several small shrines along the way. Free access. About 1h walk from the station. Most food places take cash only.
Two bus rides from the center of Kyoto this shrine is a beautiful change from the heat of the city. Not a tour bus in sight, we were able to stroll around and enjoy.
The bonus was the wonderful lunch we had on the platform that straddled the babbling creek.
