Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine

Close to the lively Nishiki Market, Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine is a place where visitors can enjoy traditional Japanese architecture and gardens. Enshrining Tenjin, the deified Sugawara no Michizane from the Heian period (794-1185), the shrine originally stood on Michizane’s father’s property and has been associated with academic and business success.

The shrine’s history mirrors Japan’s dynamic past. In 1299, Zenkō-ji temple merged with Kanki-ji temple, making Tenmangu its protective shrine. After suffering damage during the Onin War (1467-1477), the temple and shrine were moved, but in 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s city planning relocated Nishiki Tenmangu to its present location on the east end of Nishikikoji Street.

The Meiji era (1868-1912) saw Nishiki Tenmangu separating from its Buddhist ties to become an independent Shinto shrine. A 1889 fire led to the 1890 reconstruction of the current shrine buildings. A part of the 1935 torii gate amusingly integrates with nearby buildings due to a planning oversight.

At Nishiki Tenmangu, visitors can discover the “karakuri mikuji,” a mechanical fortune-teller with a lion dance, and fortunes in English or for children. The shrine also hosts auxiliary deities, including Minamoto no Ietaka and Ukanomitama-no-kami.

The “Nishiki no Mizu” spring is a local highlight for its reputed benefits. For the spiritually inclined, the shrine is part of the “Sugawara no Michizane Twenty-Five Sanctuaries Pilgrimage” and the “Twenty-Five Shrines of Rakuou Tenmangu Pilgrimage.”

Surrounding the shrine, various shops offer traditional goods. Nishiki Tenmangu also celebrates festivals like Setsubun in February and Tenjin in July, which showcase Kyoto’s cultural heritage.