Imamiya Shrine — Attraction in Kyoto

A peaceful and serene spot surprising for a shrine of this size in Kyoto. The grounds were beautiful and you could take at least 30 minutes to slowly appreciate the tranquility. On a Friday afternoon in late October it was almost completely empty except for a few worshippers. Very nice to connect with the spirituality of shrines. 🙏✨

This shrine also has deep historical roots dating back to the Heian era, and some rather more “recent” Edo period ties being a shrine where the birth mother of the fifth Tokugawa shogun prayed at before marrying into the Tokugawa family.

When visiting this shrine, be sure to visit one of the two long-running traditional shops making fresh grilled mochi located right outside the shrine! Delicious to enjoy in the peaceful atmosphere, even more so after a tiring day of exploring.

If walking from the main road from the bus stop, the big torii gate can guide you for sure.

I’m so glad I added this place to my day, was...

Sunny morning Imamiya Shrine Morning to noon around 今宮神社 for desserts, good luck, good health and cleanse off negative energy at the same time.

There are few unique attractions within Imamiya Shrine. Especially, the two old dessert shops Ichiwa and Kazariya. Specialized in roasted rice cakes known as aburi-mochi.

There is also a unique 今宮の奇石 阿呆賢 The Magical Ahokashisan Stone of Imamiya Shrine. Locals visit the stone for its magical elements. When a person touches the stone and then rubs to the injury area, it would assist in faster healing and recovery. The stone has wish granting properties too, by tapping the stone three times, lifts it up and puts it down. Then, strokes the stone again while making a wish, lifts it up and puts...

The Zen gardens in this shrine are truly beautiful and captivating. Perhaps I was lucky ... It was a very quiet and cool day, and the sun had gone to play elsewhere. I was able to just sit there in peace and lose myself in the tranquility. Amazingly, there were no hordes of tourists so I was enveloped by a calm that was gentle and uplifting, and I left with a deeper appreciation of the love and respect that the Japanese people have for nature. Lovely place to visit, but please leave all "noise" of adventure and discovery outside before you enter so you can sink into the soft silence that's waiting...