Kyoto｜The Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine that experienced the separation of gods and Buddhas and the increasingly prosperous Nishiki Market

Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine, hidden next to Nishiki Market in Kyoto, enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, the god of learning. The history of this shrine is a bit complicated. It was the old house where Sugawara no Michizane was a child. After his death, it was changed from Sugawara-in to Kankiji Temple. Later, it was merged with Zendoji Temple of the Rokujo sect and called Kankikoji Temple. Tenmangu Shrine is still the guardian shrine. In 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi implemented urban planning and moved the temple and shrine to its current location. Because it is located next to Nishiki Koji, it was renamed Nishiki Tenmangu. During its most glorious period, it was called Nishiki Tenjin and was said to have covered an area of ​​1,400 square meters. During the Meiji period, due to the separation of Shinto and Buddhism, Kankoji Temple moved and merged with Hokokuji Temple and moved to Higashiyama District. The Kintenmangu Shrine was later rebuilt into its current more compact and simple appearance. For more than four hundred years, Kintenmangu Shrine has been protecting the residents of Kawaramachi and is very popular. Also because of the developed economy and urban growth, the Torii gate, which is regarded as the realm of gods, penetrates into the houses on both sides, showing the merchants' reverence for the gods and has become a spectacle. The Temizuya in Tenmangu Shrine is the Nishiki water that gushes out 30 meters underground and maintains a temperature of 18 degrees all year round. We unexpectedly discovered that day that a Taiwanese company was also offering lanterns at Tenmangu Shrine. After the formation of the Shinkyogoku Shopping Street, Nishiki Market and Kawaramachi became a bustling area where businesses and people gathered. People came to the market to browse snacks, buy bags, cosmetics and shoes, and finally continue shopping at department stores on the main street. It has also become a popular area in Kyoto for accommodation. 📍Address: 537 Nakanocho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8042 Japan 🚗Ten minutes walk from Hankyu Kawaramachi Station; get off at Shijo Kawaramachi on the Kyoto bus and walk for three minutes. #MarchGoodPlaces2025