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2022.12.15
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The year 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit! Shrines in Kyoto recommended for zodiac year pilgrimages

The year 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit! 5 shrines in Kyoto recommended for zodiac year pilgrimages

The Chinese zodiac sign for 2023 is "Rabbit. Why don't you pay a New Year's visit to a shrine or Shinto shrine in Kyoto that is closely related to the rabbit and bring in good luck? We will introduce the highlights of shrines and shrines, as well as cute omikuji (omikuji), omamori (good luck charms), and ema (votive picture tablet) with rabbit motifs!

1.Higashitenno Okazaki Shrine, famous for its rabbit shrine / Okazaki

The Higashitenno Okazaki Shrine was built to protect the Heian-kyo Capital. The shrine is known for its close connection with rabbits, as rabbits are prolific and the area is a habitat for wild rabbits. In the shrine's water fountain, you will encounter a rabbit that is said to bring blessings for children if you pat its belly, and in the main hall, you will encounter a rabbit that is believed to bring good luck for couples. Take home the Usagi Chikuji amulet as a good-luck charm for the year 2023.

Okazaki Shrine Tezumisha

pika (rabbit-like animal of family Ochotonidae)

Okazaki Shrine Omikuji Omamori

Usagiku Chikuji Charm 500 yen for the first earning

East Tenno Okazaki Shrine

  • Higashi-ninja Temple (Akasaka Shrine)
  • 51 Okazaki Higashi Tenno-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • Short walk from bus stop "Okazaki Jinja-mae".
  • Tel. 075-771-1963
  • Main Shrine / Opening Hours
    Precincts freedom
    9:00-17:00 for the awarding office *Changed opening hours: Dec. 31, 9:00 - Jan. 1, 17:00
    Year-end and New Year's events
    December 31: New Year's Eve Purification Time to be determined Weather permitting
    January 1: New Year's Day Festival *Not open to the public

2.Pray to "Okuninushi God" and the white rabbit for your wish [Yasaka Shrine] / Gion

Yasaka Shrine is the head shrine of the Gion faithful who pray for protection from bad luck. Daikokuninushi Shrine, located within the precincts of the shrine, enshrines Daikokuninushi, the god of marriage. Next to the torii gate, you can see a white rabbit that is said to have led visitors to a good marriage with "Okuninushi God" based on the myth "Inaba no Shirohare (The White Hare of Inaba). You can pray to the rabbit for your love and other wishes at the "Gakkake Usagi" (rabbit of desire).

Yasaka Shrine Okuninushi Shrine
Yasaka Shrine

Wishful thinking rabbit (first earning 500 yen)

Yasaka Shrine

  • Yasaka Shrine
  • 625 Gion-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 5 min. walk from "Gion-Shijo Station" of Keihan
    Approximately 8 minutes walk from Hankyu "Kyoto Kawaramachi Station".
  • Tel. 075-561-6155
  • Main Shrine / Opening Hours
    Free in the precincts (Shrine office 9:00-17:00)
    Opening hours of the awarding office during New Year's Day areHPcheck
    Year-end and New Year's events
    Dec. 31, around 19:30 - Pilgrimage to Okera
    January 1, 5:00- Baijiu Festival
    January 3, 8:00~ New Year's Day
    January 3, 9:00~ First Noh Dedication
    January 3, 13:00- Karuta starting ceremony

3.[Encountering a Mikaeragi rabbit at Uji Shrine/Uji

Uji Shrine is revered as the god of academic success. Uji Shrine is the setting of the legend of "Mikaeri-Usagi," in which a rabbit appeared, turned around, led the way, and guided the way to this place when the god "Uji Wakaroshi-no-mikoto" lost his way on his way from Kawachi Province to this place. The Mikaeri-Usagi omikuji, ema (votive picture tablet), and red seal are all based on the legend, and the image of the rabbit looking back is unique to Uji Shrine.

Uji Shrine Main Hall
Uji Shrine

Mikaeri-Usagi Ema 500 yen, Mikaeri-Usagi no Omikuji 500 yen

Uji Shrine

  • Uji shrine
  • 1 Uji Yamada, Uji City, Kyoto, Japan
  • Approximately 9 minutes walk from "Uji" station of Keihan
    Approx. 15 min. walk from JR Uji Sta.
  • Tel.0774-21-3041
  • Main Shrine / Opening Hours
    Precincts freedom
    Awarding and prayers are accepted until 16:00 *December 31, 23:00 - January 1, 2:00 approx. January 1, 7:00 - 18:00 approx.
    Year-end and New Year's events
    December 31, 15:00 Grand Purification Ceremony
    January 1, 0:00 New Year's Day Festival (not to be attended)
    January 1, 5:00 First prayer (for applicants only)

4.Ujigami Shrine, a World Heritage Site associated with rabbits/Uji

Ujigami Shrine is a World Heritage site. The main shrine building (a national treasure), nestled in the forest at the foot of the mountain, is the oldest existing shrine building, and the shrine grounds are filled with a solemn atmosphere. Uji used to be called "Uji-michi," a road of rabbits, and the awarding office is lined with gently colored "rabbit omikuji" (omikuji fortune). Visitors are encouraged to draw the "Usagi omikuji" carefully, keeping their wishes in mind.

Ujigami Shrine Torii
Ujigami Shrine

Rabbit papier-mache fortune 300 yen (white, pink, yellow, green)

Ujigami Shrine

  • shrine honouring war dead
  • 59 Uji Yamada, Uji City, Kyoto, Japan
  • 10 minutes walk from "Uji" station of Keihan
    Approximately 16 minutes on foot from JR Uji Station
  • Tel. 0774-21-4634
  • Main Shrine / Opening Hours
    Free visit to the precincts of the temple (closing time 16:30 / awarding office 9:00-16:15)
    (*Opening hours are changed on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
    Opening hours: 9:00-16:30 on December 31 and 22:00 on December 31 to around 18:00 on January 1 /.
    (Awarding office Dec. 31, 9:00-16:15, Dec. 31, 22:00-22:00, Jan. 1, 2:00, Jan. 1, 8:00-18:00 approx.)
    Year-end and New Year's events
    New Year's limited edition red seal January 1 - Ends when all the red seals are gone (initial fee to be determined)

5.[The Izumo Grand Shrine invites happiness with its Nade-usagi rabbit / Kameoka City

The Izumo Grand Shrine is dedicated to Okuninushi no Mikoto and his consort Mihotsuhime no Mikoto.
The shrine is famous as a god of marriage, and visitors can pray not only for a man and a woman, but also for mutual growth and development. A rabbit that is closely related to "Okuninushi no Mikoto" sits in the shrine as "Happiness, Nade-Usagi". It is said that if you touch the rabbit, it will bring you happiness, and if you touch the same part of your body that hurts, it will remove the pain and illness.

Izumo Grand Shrine Nade-Usagi

Lepus brachyurus lyoni (subspecies of Japanese hare)

Izumo Grand Shrine Rabbit Protection Omikuji

Shiawase Mamoru 1000 yen, Usagi Omikuji 300 yen

Izumo Grand Shrine, the first shrine in Tamba Province

  • Ichinomiya Izumo Shrine, located in Izumo City, Shikoku
  • Izumo-no-Mu, Chitose-cho, Kameoka City, Kyoto, Japan
  • Short walk from bus stop "Izumo Daijingu-mae".
  • Tel. 0771-24-7799
  • Worship Hall and Opening Hours
    Precincts freedom
    (Reception at the shrine office: 9:00-17:00 *December 31, 9:00-17:00 / December 31, 22:00 - January 1, 17:00 / January 2-3, 9:00-17:00)
    Year-end and New Year's events
    Dec. 31, 14:00- Grand Purification Ceremony for Shihan
    Dec. 31, 17:00- (Those attending the service must register at the shrine office by 16:30 on the day of the service.)
    January 1, 7:00 - New Year's Day Festival
    January 3, 9:00~ New Year's Day
    New Year's limited red seal for 1,000 yen (distribution period: January 1 - January 3)
*Please note that the information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
*Since this site uses automatic translation, the translation may differ from the original Japanese content.

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