Admission
Free
Nakagyo, Kyoto Prefecture
At a Glance
Robot lions in glass cases dance to traditional gagaku court music and fetch your fortune when fed coins, recreating the movement of Edo-period karakuri mechanical puppets using modern robotics.
The shrine was founded in 1003 at the birthplace of Sugawara no Michizane, then relocated in 1587 during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's reconstruction of Kyoto to its current spot at Nishiki Market's eastern end.
Natural spring water rises from over 30 meters underground at a constant 17-18°C, certified safe to drink and tested yearly. Locals regularly bottle this famous Nishiki no Mizu to take home.
This shrine offers 1 different goshuin designs
Regular
Free
Within 300 m Within 600 m
Bring small coins if you want to make an offering, draw omikuji, or try the shrine's unusual robot fortune-telling.
Bring a bottle if you want to collect some of the natural spring water called Nishiki no Mizu, which flows from over 30 meters underground at 17-18 degrees Celsius and is certified safe to drink with yearly testing.
Combine your visit with exploring Nishiki Market since the shrine is located at the eastern end of this popular food market, making it easy to experience both the bustling market atmosphere and the tranquil shrine grounds in one trip.
Try the mechanical karakuri omikuji fortune-telling by feeding coins into the glass cases, which activates robotic shishi lions that dance to traditional gagaku court music before delivering your fortune.
The divine spirits venerated at this sacred place
What this place is believed to grant
Fascinating facts about this place
Robot lions in glass cases dance to traditional gagaku court music and fetch your fortune when fed coins, recreating the movement of Edo-period karakuri mechanical puppets using modern robotics.
The shrine was founded in 1003 at the birthplace of Sugawara no Michizane, then relocated in 1587 during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's reconstruction of Kyoto to its current spot at Nishiki Market's eastern end.
Natural spring water rises from over 30 meters underground at a constant 17-18°C, certified safe to drink and tested yearly. Locals regularly bottle this famous Nishiki no Mizu to take home.
The shrine's torii gate is embedded into the surrounding buildings' walls because it was too sacred to alter when the street was constructed, creating a bizarre architectural feature visible in upper-floor windows.
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