Matsuo Shrine
Matsuo Shrine
4
The area
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Neighbourhood: City Center
No district of Kyoto is quite as representative of its blended nature as the City Center. By day, the covered shopping arcades along Kawaramachi and Shijo Street bring deal hunters and fashionistas out in droves to peruse the clothing, accessories, gifts, and home goods offerings. When it grows dark, the City Center is a hip spot for nightlife, alive with bars and clubs. A trendy culinary scene and an abundance of local watering holes give the Center its youthful vibrancy. In contrast, the quieter areas of the City Center seem a world away, shielded from noise by the foliage of the public gardens and zen spaces surrounding the area's shrines, castles, and the Imperial Palace. These ancient and sacred spots are seamlessly folded into the scenery, providing a respite from the energy of the city, but close enough to put you directly back onto the pulse of the city when you're ready.
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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles184 reviews
Excellent
54
Very good
95
Average
32
Poor
2
Terrible
1

Kimitaka S
Taichung, Taiwan14,141 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2020 • Solo
Matsuo Taisha is one of the oldest shrine, and its God is a protector of Sake brewing. I had visited long time ago, but this time I happened to pass nearby, so I paid a visit. As the new year approaches, they have already prepared for a new year’s Hatsumode. A big Ema (a board of a zodiac sign) was remarkable.
Written 25 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NATCHO
54 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019 • Solo
幸運の双鯉は恋愛成就、夫婦円満、立身出世を願い撫でて祈念します。
I wish for a love fulfillment, a married couple, and a successful career.
幸運の撫で亀は寿命長久、家庭円満を願い撫でて祈念します。
The turtle is lucky to have a long life and wish for family satisfaction.
庭園も綺麗ですので一度行かれることをお勧めします。
The garden is also beautiful. It is recommended to go once.
#kyoto
#matsuotaisha
#love
#family
Written 23 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

petertaylor57
Auckland Central, New Zealand385 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2019 • Solo
A major shrine in Arashiyama, a short walk from Saga station. Most folks turn right outside the station to head for the more major attractions like the Tenryuji and the bamboo forest walk. Don't follow the crowd, turn left over the bridge, and the gateway to the shrine is on your right. Nicely decorated, with all the trappings you expect to find at a shrine of importance, but wth few people around. Note the huge casks of sake rice wine stored up on the veranda. I wonder who gets to drink that lot?
Written 24 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

22Suz
San Francisco, CA10 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2016 • Solo
At around 10:30 AM, I received a same day admission for Katsura Rikyu for 1:30 PM. Since there are no places to visit in walking distance, I decided to visit Matsuo shrine, which was recommended by a girl at coffee shop. I and a couple from Australia, whom I met at coffee shop, shared a cab ride. It took about 10 minutes. The shrine is located at hill side. On a hot and humid summer day, there were only a few people visiting this shrine. It was very quiet and peaceful!! Only sound of cicadas echoed. There is a small water fall behind the shrine and we welcomed its sound and cool breeze. There are a small sake museum, gardens and old statues. At both sides of the main shrine, there are small objects, carps at one side and a turtle at the other. It's said that if you make wishes rubbing them, your wishes come true. This place was so quiet and peaceful, we did not want to leave! If you want to enjoy quiet, relaxing, peaceful time, this is the place!
Written 13 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ART196
244 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2016 • Solo
Matsuo-taisha was founded by the Hata-shi (clan) in 701. The Hata-shi brought techniques for brewing alcohol from rice from Korea. Because of this, and because the shrine is located at a sacred spring, sake companies pray here. On Hatsumode (New Year’s shrine visit) Matsuo-taisha serves kinpaki miki (gold-leaf blessed sake). In 965, Matsuo-taisha was one of 16 shrines that Emperor Murakami ordered be divinely updated on regular events, and thus it received Imperial patronage. In the modern period, Matsuo-taisha was a first rank shrine within State Shintō.
Written 22 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

turkjj25
Kani, Japan252 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2016 • Couples
The torii (gate) is soooo big! It's a great addition to your day if you're already planning shopping and sightseeing around Arashiyama. You can get off the train the stop before the bamboo forest
Written 25 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

EC-HK
Hong Kong273 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2016
It's not a common spot for visiting Arashiyama 嵐山. Only the garden needs to be paid to visit. The other areas are free. No bike parking but the people were nice to ask us to park at places that won't affect car parking.
Written 13 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nick d
Kyoto Prefecture, Japan2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2016 • Solo
I feel that most people skip Matsotaisha on their way to the far more popular Arashiyama. Both stops are on the Arashiyama line, and there's very little at the station to let you know about this local attraction. It's definitely worth getting off one station early to take a look.

Matsuotaisha is a large, beautifully constructed shrine sitting at the base of the long mountain range that runs along the edge of the Katsura river. From inside the shrine's main area, the mountains rise up imposingly behind the tiled rooftops and provide a breathtaking backdrop to the red lacquered gates and walls. For a few yen you can walk around the back of the shrine, and get even closer to the mountain, all the way to a small waterfall that isn't visible from the main area.

When you've taken a look around, they serve tea and dango at a small store just outside, or if you visit during one of their many festivals, you can pick up some hot stall food.

From Matuotaisha it's just a 20 minute walk to Arashiyama along the edge of Katsura river. If the weather is good, it's entirely worth adding an extra hour to your visit to this area.
Written 10 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jasmine C
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2015 • Solo
I found this shrine by accident while cycling to Kokedera temple. What I found did not disappoint!

It is a big area with lots to look at and has some of the most amazing gardens incorporating water and rocks in a way I had never seen before.

You could see everything in an hour or stay longer to linger by the ponds and feel very relaxed due to the lack of gaping tourists.

There was a very sweet elderly man working there who pointed the route to different areas.

It is well worth going off the usual tourist route!
Written 24 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anne T
Surprise, AZ303 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2015
We did not pay to enter the gardens so this review is just for the shrine grounds. There is a sacred well with a turtle-shaped fountain head; behind it is a waterfall. It was a nice, quiet place to wander and look around. The gardens are supposed to be very nice, but we were on our way to Kokedera so we bypassed them.
Written 1 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Matsuo Shrine, Kyoto

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