Name: Yakuso Jinshi
Address: Kyoto, Kyoto, 604-0855, JP
Telephone: +81
Price range: Free

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Location

Higashitamayacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-0855, Japan

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What makes this place special?

At a Glance

Yakuso Jinshi in Kyoto is a small Shinto shrine dedicated to medical deities, including Yakuso-jin and Hippocrates. Rebuilt in 1906, it stands in a quiet residential lane near Karasuma Oike, with the main worship area usually viewable only through protective glass.

Shinto Shrine Historic

Why you should go

Yakuso Jinshi is dedicated to medical deities, including Yakuso-jin and Hippocrates—an unusual mix of Japanese and Greek healing figures.

Yakuso Jinshi stands in Higashitamaya-cho, Kyoto, near Karasuma Oike.

This shrine uniquely enshrines a trinity of medical gods from three cultures: Japanese deities Ōkuninushi and Sukunabikona, Chinese god Shennong, and ancient Greek physician Hippocrates—making it possibly the only Shinto shrine honoring a Western figure.

The original shrine was destroyed in 1864 during the Hamaguri Gate Rebellion when flames engulfed Kyoto's medics' quarter in Nijo. It was rebuilt in 1906 and relocated to its current quiet residential location in Higashi-Tamaya.

Know before you go

Because Yakuso Jinshi is a small shrine, plan for a brief stop rather than a long visit.
Since the shrine is viewable primarily through protective glass and is quite small, your visit will likely be brief, so consider combining it with other nearby attractions in the Karasuma Oike area to make the most of your time in this part of Kyoto.
The main worship area is only accessible during the annual medical festival held in November, so plan your visit accordingly if you want to enter beyond the protective glass barrier.
This shrine uniquely enshrines a trinity of medical deities from three different cultures: the Japanese gods Ōkuninushi and Sukunabikona, the Chinese god Shennong, and the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, making it a rare example of cross-cultural religious syncretism worth appreciating during your visit.
The shrine sits on a quiet residential lane near Karasuma Oike, so visit respectfully and keep noise low.

What makes this place special?

Why you should go

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Know before you go

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Nearby Places

Yakuso Jinshi Shrine(薬祖神社)

Nearby Places