"Imamiya-Jinja". Famous shrine for marry a man of wealth. Also let's taste the specialty food Aburi-mochi rice cake!

Source by： Imamiya-jinja official web site／http://www.imamiyajinja.org/jpn/imamiya_JPN/jing_nei_she.html

In the Kita-ku of Kyoto city, there are lots of historical shrines and temples. Among them, Imamiya-jinja was built in Heian era and the God of pestilence has been enshrined. Today, people come here and pray for the "Warding off evil", "Health and long life" and "Good match and good luck". Also recently, Imamiya-jinja is popular for women as a "Tamanokoshi shrine (marry a man of wealth)".

It is said that because of below story, Imamiya-jinja has become famous for the shrine of the "Tamanokoshi".

"Otama" is a woman who was born at vegetable store family in Nishijin in Kyoto. She had became a concubine of Iemitsu the 3rd Shogun of Edo era and she also became a mother of the 5th Shogun Tsunayoshi then finally she was the highest rank lady in Tokugawa family. So, it is said that "T・A・M・A・nokoshi" comes from ”oT・A・M・A".

site from：Wikipedia

Because of this story, recently there are more women visitors than before.
Then, we would like to introduce the history and features of Imamiya-jinja.

Table of contents for this article

１，Basic and Useful information
２，Map
３，Photo of Imamiya-jinja
４，Specialty food "Aburi-mochi"
５，Traditional event! "Yasurai-Matsuri" and "Imamiya-Matsuri"
６，Imamiya-jinja by Google street view
７，Access information
８，Comment from EnjoyJapan!
９，Tips and things to do around Imamiya-jinja

１，Basic and Useful information

Basic information

Name： Imamiya Jinja
Name In English： Imamiya shrine
Prefecture： Kyoto
Area： Kyoto-city Kita-ku (around Kinkaku-ji)
Postal code：603-8243
Address： 21 imamiya-cho, Murasakino, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu
Telephone： 075-491-0082 ※9:00-17:00
Admission hours： All time
Admission Fee： Free
Parking： 〇

※44 cars／Charged
※There is a meter parking nearby

Official web site：http://www.imamiyajinja.org/jpn/imamiya_JPN/toppu.html

Useful information

Less than 10 min walk from a station： ☓
Accompanied with： friend／date／family／alone
Staff who can speak foreign language： Unknown
Free Wi-Fi： Unknown
Average time required： Approx. 1 hour 〜

２，MAP

Source by： Imamiya-jinja official web site／http://www.imamiyajinja.org/map.jpg

The Map of Imamiya-jinja precinct.

【List of buildings】

●Main shrine
●Eki-sha
●Hai-den(hall of worship)
●Ahokashisan
●Orihime-sha
●Hassha
●Yawata-sha
●Daishogun-sha
●Hiyoshi-sha
●Wakamiya-sha
●Inari-sha・Odainari-sha
●Jishu inari-sha
●Tsukiyomi-sha
●Ro-mon
●Munakata-sha
●Namazu no daiishi
●Shinme-sha

３，Photo of Imamiya-jinja

There are many buildings in the Imamiya-jinja.
Please see the photo of the best spots of Imamiya-jinja.

Static Bird Sueさん(@mint_leaf_kyoto)が投稿した写真 - 2015 11月 3 4:23午前 PST

Source by：instagram／chiiroba_tabiclubさん

"Ro-mon(two-storied gate)"

ちいろば旅倶楽部さん(@chiiroba_tabiclub)が投稿した写真 - 2015 10月 4 2:21午前 PDT

Source： instagram／chiiroba_tabiclubさん

"Main shrine"


Source by： Imamiya-jinja official web site／http://www.imamiyajinja.org/jpn/imamiya_JPN/jing_nei_she.html

"Ahokashisan"
Ahokashisan stone in Imamiya-jinja is also called "Kamiuchi-ishi", and it has a traditional legend.

When you have some problem in you body, touch this stone gently then touch your body part where there is some problem you can get better quickly. Also there is another traditional legend. At first, clap your hands three times and lift up the stone then clap your hands three times again and lift up the stone again. If you feel the stone lighter than fist time, your wish will come true.
When you come to Imamiya-jinja, please try it.


Source by： Imamiya-jinja official web site／http://www.imamiyajinja.org/jpn/imamiya_JPN/jing_nei_xie_zhen.html

"Hassha(eight shrines)"
Eight different Gods are enshrined.
Daikokou-sha,Ebisu-sha,Yawata-sha,Atsuta-sha,
Sumiyoshi-sha,Katori-sha,Kagami tsukuri-sha,Suwa-sha.
TV dramas were filmed in front of this shrine.


Source by： Imamiya-jinja official web site／http://www.imamiyajinja.org/jpn/imamiya_JPN/jing_nei_xie_zhen.html

"Wakamiya-sha"


Source by： Imamiya-jinja official web site／http://www.imamiyajinja.org/jpn/imamiya_JPN/jing_nei_xie_zhen.html

"Oda Inari-sha"
Oda Inari-sha worships Oda Nobunaga(famous Samurai in Warring States Period in Japan).


Source by ：Imamiya-jinja official web site／http://www.imamiyajinja.org/jpn/imamiya_JPN/jing_nei_xie_zhen.html

You can enjoy autumn leaves in fall.


Source by： Imamiya-jinja official web site／http://www.imamiyajinja.org/jpn/imamiya_JPN/jing_nei_xie_zhen.html

Kita-ku in Kyoto city where Imamiya-jinja is located has sometimes snow in winter.

４，Specialty food "Aburi-mochi". Let's taste and compare the 2 shops "Ichimonji wasuke" and "Kazariya"!

"Aburi-mochi (roasted rice cake)" is the very popular food at Imamiya-jinja. Aburi-mochi is "finger-sized sticky rice cake skewered on bamboo and dusted with the sweet, toasted soybean flour called kinako. Then they are grilled,and finally dipped in a white miso sauce".
There are two famous shops facing each other, "Ichiwa(Ichimonji wasuke)" and "Kazariya".

When you pass in front of the shops, the staff from both shops come out and talk to you. That is fun.

MIYOさん(@miyo_akromatik)が投稿した写真 - 2016 1月 3 8:54午後 PST

Source by： instagram／miyo_akromatikさん

Specialty food at Imamiya-jinja, Aburi-mochi "Kazariya".

くりさん(@qoo2465)が投稿した写真 - 2016 1月 4 3:34午前 PST

Source by： instagram／qoo2465さん

Specialty food at Imamiya-jinja, Aburi-mochi "Ichiwa(Ichimonji wasuke)".

It is difficult to say that which shop is better. The taste is different so please try both and compare.

５，Traditional event! "Yasurai Matsuri" and "Imamiya Matsuri"

We introduce the traditional event of Imamiya-jinja, "Yasurai Matsuri" and "Imamiya Matsuri".

"Yasurai Matsuri"

Source by： Imamiya-jinja official web site／http://www.imamiyajinja.org/jpn/imamiya_JPN/jing_nei_xie_zhen.html

"Yasurai Matsuri" is held in April. This festival has been handed down from long time ago and it has the meaning that illness prevention and praying for health. Red Ogre and Black Ogre make the parade and dance "Yasurai Odori". With the cherry blossom blooming, "Yasurai Odori" is the highlight of this event.

"Imamiya Matsuri"

Source by： Imamiya-jinja official web site／http://www.imamiyajinja.org/jpn/imamiya_JPN/yasurai_ji.html#6

"Imamiya Matsuri" is held in May for 8 days.
The event start from "Shinko-Sai" and end to "Kanko-Sai", during the event, people carry the Big Mikoshi(portable shrine) and walk around the Nishijin area near the Imamiya-jinja.

６，Imamiya-jinja by Google street view

You can see the inside the Imamiya-jinja and also Aburi-mochi shop "Ichiwa(Ichimonji wasuke)" and "Kazariya".

７，Access information

Postal code： 603-8243
Address： 21 imamiya-cho, Murasakino, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu
Telephone： 075-491-0082 ※9:00-17:00
Transportation：

(by Train & Bus)
・At JR 「Kyoto」station, take the Kyoto city bus #205 or #206 and get off at 「Funaokayama」 then 10 min by walk
・At subway station「Kita-oji」, take the Kyoto city bus #1,#8,#12,#M1,#204,#205 or #206 and get off at 「Funaokayama」 then 10 min by walk
・At Keihan train 「Demachi yanagi」station, take the Kyoto city bus #1 and get off at「Funaokayama」 then 10 min by walk
・At Hankyu train 「Karasuma」station, take the Kyoto city bus #46 and get off at 「Imamiya-jinja mae」 then few min by walk

(Taxi)
・20 min from JR 「Kyoto」station
・15 min from Hankyu train 「Karasuma」station
・15 min from Keihan train「Demachi yanagi」station

８，Comment from EnjoyJapan!

Imamiya-jinja is not famous as Yasaka-jinja, Heian-jingu or Kiyomizu-dera. But it is getting popular especially for women who pray for the great marriage with rich man. Also Aburi-mochi is very popular so many tourist come to eat it in Imamiya-jinja.

Imamiya-jinja is not far from Kinkaku-ji. please visit them together. And please taste and compare both Aburi-mochi of "Ichiwa(Ichimonjiya wasuke)" and "Kazariya".

９，Tips and things to do around Imamiya-jinja

【Sightseeing】

▶Covered with Gold Leaf! World heritage site 「Kinkaku-ji」.That is amazing!