Welcome back friends! I want to share with you a place I went with one of my new friends when we went to Sannenzaka Path during the day, Yasaka Koshin-do!
Yasaka Koshin-do
Yasaka Koshin-do (also called the monkey shrine) is a brightly colored temple in Kyoto. That eye catching aesthetic draws people in and makes it a good place to take photos for locals and tourists alike.
Kanpai Japan states that while it is a Buddhist temple, it is dedicated to a Taoist warrior named Koshin-san, who helps people struggling in everyday life and punishes evil. The temple honors the three wise monkeys. You know the ones, see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
Those brightly colored balls (kukurizaru) are the place where wishes are written. The wishes are put inside the ball and written on the fabric. They are then hung throughout the temple. In order for those wishes to be granted, one of your desires must be given to Koshin-san (Kanpai Japan).
This info is from my experiences and Kanpai Japan website. Credit where credit is due.
Accessibility of Yasaka Koshin-do
Parking
There is no parking here, but you can get there by walking from the nearby bus stop or a 30 minute walk from Kyoto station.
Bathrooms
I did not see any bathrooms here. Keep that in mind as you’re out and about.
My Experience
Yasaka Koshin-do is a cool place. My new friend and I stopped here on the way back to the hotel from Sannenzaka Path on one of my last days in Japan. By the time we got here, it was just starting to get dark and there were only a few people here. That being said, it was quiet and dare I say, peaceful, especially while walking on the path through the trees.
The weather was super nice, which was great. The route we took to get here was mostly stone, sidewalks, and pavement. Since we were coming down from the Sannenzaka area, there were more declines which was okay with me and my tired feet. We entered through the nature path side, so there were no stairs. There aren’t stairs at the main entrance either, if memory serves.
The main pathway was made from large stone bricks with grooves like you see in the photos. Other areas were made of pebbles. Everything was relatively flat, but there was a small incline in areas. I was able to walk right up to the shrine and shop. While I was here I got more amulets and goshuin (stamps) for my collection.
My rating
If I had to put a rating on this activity, I would say the shrine itself fell into the easy category. Everything was relatively flat and easy to maneuver. However, the walk here can be a lot depending on which way you come from. This is the area with lots of steep hills, so keep that in mind if you’re walking or taking public transport. I would say the walk could fall into the moderate to hard category.
Unfortunately, Cardybear did not come on the Japan adventures. I wanted to bring him, but he takes up my whole backpack. He was definitely there in spirit though.
Be safe out there and remember your passport! Seeyalaterbye <3
Also, if you feel called to help a sista out with her travels, check this out!
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