Kitano Tenman-Gū

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  • Address
    Bakuro-chō, Kamigyō-ku
  • Phone
    461 0005
  • Transport
    bus: 1min walk from Kitano Tenmangū-mae bus stop, bus 50 or 101 from Kyoto Station, 1min walk from Kitano Tenmangū-mae bus stop, bus 50 or 101 from Kyoto Station

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Lonely Planet review

This shrine is a great spot for a lazy stroll and the shrine buildings themselves are beautiful. It's particularly pleasant here in the plum-blossom season of March and is the site of Tenjin-San Market, one of Kyoto's most popular flea markets.

Kitano Tenman-gū was established in 947 to honour Sugawara Michizane (845-903), a noted Heian-era statesman and scholar.

It is said that having been defied by his political adversary Fujiwara Tokihira, Sugawara was exiled to Kyūshū for the rest of his life. Following his death in 903, earthquakes and storms struck Kyoto, and the Imperial Palace was repeatedly struck by lightening. Fearing that Sugawara, reincarnated as Raijin (god of thunder), had returned from beyond to avenge his rivals, locals erected and dedicated this shrine to him.

The present buildings were built in 1607 by Toyotomi Hideyori; the grounds contain an extensive grove of plum and apricot trees, said to have been Sugawara's favourite fruits.

Unless you are trying to avoid crowds, the best time to visit is during the Tenjin-san market fair, held on the 25th of each month - December and January are particularly colourful.