Nonomiya Shrine
The Nonomiya Shrine is a small Shinto shrine in Arashiyama with a rich history and a serene ambience.
Located by the path through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Nonomiya Jinja is very convenient to visit.
The Nonomiya Shrine was established in ancient times as a purification site for Japanese imperial princesses appointed as priestesses for the renowned Ise Shrine.
With a lovely moss-covered garden and a unique torii gate, the Nonomiya Shrine is well worth a stop on your visit to Arashiyama!
Planning a trip to the famous grove? Visit our Arashiyama Bamboo Forest home page for the complete rundown on every single detail!
And if you’re just starting to plan your visit to Japan, check out some of the top things to do in Japan, many of which you absolutely don’t want to miss!
What to See at the Nonomiya Shrine
Torii Gate
The Nonomiya Shrine features a somewhat unique black torii gate, quite unlike the bright orange torii gates you usually see.
Known as a kuroki torii, the rustic gate looks charming amidst the green of the surrounding forest.
Moss Garden
The small garden laid out on the right of the main shrine at Nonomiya Jinja is a restful sight.
Admire the carpeting of bright green moss, the mature trees, and the small traditional bridge.
Shrines
Nonomiya Jinja features a main shrine as well as a few secondary shrines. The complex is of great significance to women.
The main shrine is dedicated to Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun.
Secondary shrines include one dedicated to Shirafuku Inari, the goddess of childbirth, and one to Nonomiya Daikokuten, the goddess of marriage.
Some of these secondary shrines are marked by the traditional orange torii gates.
Turtle Stone
Located to the left of the Nonomiya Daikokuten sub-shrine is a stone called the Turtle Stone or Lucky Stone.
Legend has it that if you rub the stone and pray over it, your wish will be granted within a year.
A Brief History of Nonomiya Jinja
The Nonomiya Shrine was one of several small shrines established in order to prepare imperial princesses to serve as priestesses at the Ise Shrine.
Ise Jingu, dedicated to Amaterasu, the sun goddess, is considered the most sacred Shinto shrine in the country.
The young unmarried daughter of the emperor chosen to serve as priestess spent about a year at a shrine like Nonomiya Jinja to purify herself before leaving for the Ise Shrine.
Nonomiya Shrine was established for Princess Ninshi, a daughter of Emperor Saga, who served as priestess for a few years in the early part of the ninth century.
The practice was eventually abandoned and the shrines set up for purification started to decline.
But luckily, Nonomiya Jinja has been maintained through the years and is today a much-beloved little shrine.
Nonomiya Shrine Access
You can walk from the Saga Arashiyama Station to the Nonomiya Shrine in about 10 minutes.
Or you can exit via the north gate of Tenryu-ji Temple and turn right, to walk to the Nonomiya Shrine in a couple of minutes.
Nonomiya Shrine Hours
The Nonomiya Shrine is open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Nonomiya Shrine Entrance Fee
There is no entrance fee for the Nonomiya Shrine. It is free to visit!
The train is unquestionably the best way to get around Japan. Click to get your Japan Rail Pass now!