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.

🚌 Explore Kyoto’s Iconic Landmarks in a Day! Join the PERFECT KYOTO 1-Day Bus Tour to visit must-see sites like Fushimi Inari Shrine, Sagano Bamboo Forest, Kinkaku-ji Temple and more. This comprehensive tour is ideal for travelers with limited time.

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!

Best Things to Do in Japan at a Glance

Place	Activities & Best Tours (Reserve early, these sell out fast!)
Tokyo	Mt Fuji & Hakone, Tokyo highlights, Go-Kart, bar-hopping, sushi-making, local food tour, sumo
Kyoto	Kyoto highlights, Fushimi Inari hike, local food tour, ramen cooking, samurai, kimono tea ceremony, sake tasting, Nara highlights
Osaka	Osaka castle, Go Kart, street food, sushi making, Nara highlights, Kyoto highlights

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.

🦌 Visit Nara’s Historic Sites and Friendly Deer! Explore beyond Kyoto with the World Heritage Kyoto & Nara Uji Authentic Matcha Experience. This full-day tour includes visits to Todai-ji Temple, Nara Park, and a matcha tea experience in Uji.

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.

🎎 Experience Geisha Culture Up Close! Join the Discover Geisha Arts: Gion Cultural Walk & Geisha Show to learn about the traditions and arts of geisha. This 3-hour tour includes a guided walk and an authentic geisha performance.

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.

🚶‍♂️ Explore Kyoto’s Must-See Spots Privately! Enjoy a personalized journey with the 10 Must-see Spots in Kyoto One Day Private Tour. Tailor your itinerary to include top attractions with the guidance of a local expert.

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.

🍶 Discover the Art of Sake Brewing! Delve into Japan’s beloved beverage on the Kyoto Sake Brewery & Tasting Walking Tour. Visit the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum and savor a variety of sake styles.

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.

⚔️ Embark on an Authentic Samurai Journey! Step into the world of the samurai with the Small-Group Samurai Experience in Kyoto. This 2-hour session invites you to don traditional samurai attire, learn the art of katana swordsmanship, and engage in Zen meditation within a historic Kyoto samurai house.

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!