八阪神社

About this photo

This photo shows a torii gate and a gateway at Yasaka Shrine in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto. It appears in Kyoto Meishocho (Album of Famous Places in Kyoto), published in 1907 (Meiji 40) by the Kyoto City Council. The "saka" of Yasaka is written with a different character in the title than it is today.

Until the start of the Meiji era, Yasaka Shrine was called Gionsha or Kanshin'in. In 1868 (Keio 4, which became Meiji 1), it took its present name under the government's policy of separating Shinto gods from Buddhism. The shrine has two large tower gates: the West Romon at the end of Shijo-dori street, and the South Romon facing the main hall. The great stone torii in front of the South Romon was built in 1646. The West Romon was moved in 1913 (Taisho 2) when Shijo-dori was widened.

The main hall was designated a National Treasure in 2020 (Reiwa 2). That same year, 26 buildings including the South Romon were added as Important Cultural Properties, bringing the total, with the West Romon and the stone torii, to 29.

Glossary