Seimei Shrine — Attraction in Kyoto

I will admit I know nothing of Abe no Seimei except for the most basic info available on the shrine's website and Wikipedia. I can, however, offer my impressions and observations of the shrine when I visited it recently.

I am usually one who avoids and pretty much loathes commercialism but I'll make a small exception for this place mainly because I found it quite fun.

When I decided to drop by one late Sunday morning, I was surprised to find quite a few Japanese visitors and tourists. I took the city bus and it dropped me off almost at the doorstep of the shrine.

The outer torii gate has a traditional signboard that bears the shrine's emblem or kamon of a 5 pointed star. This is quite rare because most signboards typically bear the name of the place. If I had to hazard a guess I think the star acts as a talisman against evil and helps to reinforce and magnify the protective powers of the gate.

The outermost gate actually sits right on the kerb side of the main road so you will find the shrine hard to miss. Please do bow before you enter and keep to the side when walking in. This is basic shrine etiquette that applies to all shrines.

Upon entering the outer gate, you'll see a stone effigy of the yokai that does Seimei's bidding, guarding a little bridge on the left. You may want to read up on the significance of crossing the bridge before you do it, or you can simply throw caution to the wind for that Instagram shot.

Just behind the bridge is a tiny hut run by a lovely little silver haired granny. Tons of souvenirs to fill your pockets here but bear in mind that while all the gifts are approved for sale by the clergy, they have NOT been blessed by the priests and so are NOT considered amulets. Tip: the amulet counter closer to the heart of the shrine has a range of amulets and keepsakes that have already been blessed if that's what you want.

You can, of course, buy stuff from the little old lady and try your luck looking for a priest to bless your purchases but I wouldn't count on it if I were you, and I wouldn't hold my breath. They aren't always around when you want them and note that fees may apply. Check the official website if you are thinking of visiting. It should prove both interesting and useful.

Once you're done with the outer perimeter, walk straight to the second torii gate and yes, a little bow and keeping to the side will be nice. On the right, is a small fountain resembling a traditional grain mortar with spring water flowing from small spouts. This was obviously a clever replacement for the traditional scoop and trough found in most temples and shrines. Thanks to the very creative and progressive clergy and personnel of the shrine, this is obviously their solution for the extra care and hygiene required by COVID. Thanks to their idea, you can safely purify your hands and mouth at this shrine before going any further to pray and converse with the deities.

I quite like the shrine because it has a fun and spritely vibe to it despite the straightforward commercialism spelt out on the website.

In case you're wondering, you won't need much time for a visit. Half an hour should do the trick unless you're really into Japanese culture and spirituality. Bring 5 yen coins to toss into alms boxes - they are considered lucky and perfect for this purpose at all temples and shrines in Japan.

For those like me, who went looking for Sen no Rikyu's old abode, all you'll find is the stone post planted just outside of the inner gate...

It’s a shame that I had an extremely awful experience here today and I hoped that every lady who likes Seimei Shrine and Abeno Seimei will not have to visit here with fear ever again. There were many workers/local folks in the shrine to clean up the decorations/mikoshi used in yesterday’s festival. After worshiping, I would like to use the restroom so I go to the back of the building and I glanced that there were about 3-4 men in front of me, at the corner near the restroom. After I entered the restroom for a while, the restroom light was turned off abruptly by someone(the switch is outside of the restroom), and then I heard rapid knocking noises at the door and the rapid noise of turning the doorknob, just as someone was trying to break in. I thought someone wanted to use the restroom urgently, so I knocked back at the door to indicate the restroom was occupied; but when I reopened the restroom door, there was no one there and those men were gone. Maybe it was just a prank, but who would have thought that such a malicious behavior would be found here in a shrine, during daytime. I have come to Seimei Shrine many times since my first visit more than 10 years ago, but after today, I would suggest ladies who want to visit here don’t come here alone so that you could at least have assistance when you suddenly feel the need to borrow...

🚙車:この辺り▶一方通行の細道多いょ🚙 ややこしいので『時刻』 ★朝9時~16:30➢(社務所業務:終了時刻) ※17:00➢完全❣閉門時刻(⚠️参拝終了) 🔮御籤だけ:17時まで､購入出来ました！ 🔺ただし❢両替=16時半まで｡※社務所の関係 💙イベント:時間変更有り‼️=要チェック！

【自信⇆自己肯定感は､別物】らしい。。 ※割と､分かる人には話してるみたい？？ (2025年/6月:夏越の祓)再訪 〔晴明様､言うこと聴いておけば良かったょ💦〕 夏越祓､主目的:晴明桔梗+ヤマボウシを観察 《桔梗》 紫:高貴さ､気品､愛､誠実さ ⚠️ピンク← 幸が薄い 意味も持つ。 白:従順､清楚､清廉潔白 🔺名前としては､オススメしない。 ※ヒント:平将門公 《ヤマボウシ》 友情 だったかと...

【雨🌧が降る。今日は､あまり良いとは言えない｡早めに帰りなさいBy晴明公】 的な感じのことを言われた。 ※風が乱れ､雷も鳴り出す… 自分 ［えっ⁉️一條戻橋も､見たい｡撮りたい｡サッと撮って､すぐ帰るからぁ。。］ ▶滝雨の浄化を受けちゃいました💦💦 禊がれた💦:(;´꒳

;):ビショビショだぬぅ。 ※傘は､持ってた。雨脚強し‼️ しかも､落とし物まで💦した。 ※1時間かけ。ズブ濡れで歩いて戻り､ ほぼ確定のエネルギーを辿って｡ 救出する羽目になりました💦 見つかって良かったけども。。 (´Д

【見どころ】 ･厄除け桃(消災桃:しょうさいとう) ･楠の木も､少しお疲れ気味でした。 暑いもんね💦御神木の御役目｡お疲れ様です｡ ･晴明桔梗:屋根にも､実は...w 昔よりは､数は減りましたね｡ ▶陰陽五行説:相生(陽?)相克(陰?)の役割を示す形が､五芒星｡だと､言われてる筈❣ ･晴明井 ･手水舎:桔梗飾り…無くなってた。(*´. . )うむ ･千利休公:聚楽第邸宅跡?だったかな｡と。 ･四神相応図も､有ります。 ⚠️旧戻橋:たまに他の存在が見らてるんで。 慣れてないと､少し嫌な感覚かもしれないね。 ･近場:一條戻橋▶落とし物した💦 ※他の方も､落とし物しやすい感じ｡注意⚠️

訪れる方が､本来の自身を取り戻せますように🙏 夏越祓に来れたことには､感謝申し上げます。

【過去の口コミ】 (2024年/12月 中旬頃/平日)再訪 今出川の辺りは 12月中旬頃の紅葉が綺麗なので...少し狙い。 やはり､色鮮やかで美しかった❣ ※青紅葉も､好きですけどねw

今回は...夢の中(※睡眠中w)で｡見た... 某有名人:晴明公との縁もある方。。 行くか迷ってた影響も有るのか？？ 良い暗示の夢では無かったので､ 念の為に…その方の幸せと自分自身の幸せ祈願も兼ねての再訪｡ 某場所での御話がてらの1年終わりの御挨拶も。。

【境内】 ・紅葉🍁と茜色の空も､素晴らしかった。 ・やはり､地面はゴミ多し｡大通り沿い中心に｡ ※一部:常習的に捨てられている可能性大← 同じ場所に｡隠すように｡捨てる人が居る模様｡ ⚠️汚いゴミも落ちてるので､脚元注意⚠️ ・稲荷様の気まずい感は｡｡相変わらず💦 ※稲荷神の御社にある萱葺きは､割と近年.. 葺き替えられたばっかりのようで 見るべきポイントのようです。 ・北斗七星や晴明桔梗等の植木:やはり､一部は無くなってますね。 ・楠は､ややお疲れの模様。 いつもの瑞々しい気を感じられず...。 ・九字護身法？の地面が出来てる。 無と有の境目みたいな感覚←踏むべきではない。かと。 ・視るタイプでは無いので... だけど､他の存在も｡昔よりは動きやすそう。 ※少し昔→他人の想い？重い。暗い感じ。 【疲､辛】よくない感じで､早く帰りたいレベルだった。⚠️今は､割とスッキリしている。 ・晴明公の仕事場と云う感覚 ※墓は､嵐山辺り？かと。 ・四神門←おすすめ‼️ ※画像:やや加工｡見やすいようにする為。 ・五行みくじ:お気に入り｡分かりやすい。 ※五行みくじ:300円...