# Nonomiya Shrine

> Small shrine at the bamboo grove entrance. Featured in The Tale of Genji. The black torii (bark-covered wood) is rare. Popular for love and matchmaking prayers.

- Prefecture: Kyoto
- Type: Shrine
- Address: Kyoto, Japan
- Admission: Free

At the entrance to Arashiyama's famous bamboo grove, this intimate Shinto shrine has welcomed visitors seeking love and academic success since ancient times. The shrine's black torii gate, a rare style called kuroki no torii made of bark-covered logs, marks where imperial princesses once purified themselves before serving at Ise Grand Shrine. Featured in the Tale of Genji, Japan's first novel, Nonomiya retains an atmosphere of quiet spirituality despite the crowds passing through the bamboo forest beyond.

## FAQ

### How do I get to Nonomiya Shrine?

Nonomiya Shrine sits inside the south end of the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, about a 10-minute walk from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station and a 5-minute walk through the bamboo grove from Tenryu-ji's north gate. From Keifuku Randen Arashiyama Station, walk 12-15 minutes via Tenryu-ji and the bamboo grove. Most visitors discover it naturally while strolling the bamboo path.

### What's special about Nonomiya Shrine?

Two things: the rare 'kuroki no torii' black torii gate made of bark-covered logs (one of very few left in Japan), and the shrine's deep historical role, where imperial princesses purified themselves for one year before serving as Saio priestesses at Ise Grand Shrine. The shrine appears in the Tale of Genji's 'Sakaki' chapter, making it a literary pilgrimage site. Its main deities grant blessings for love, education, and safe childbirth.

### What's the entry fee and opening hours?

The shrine grounds are free to visit and the gate is open 24 hours. Charms (omamori) and fortune slips (omikuji) are sold from around 9 AM to 5 PM at a small shop inside. Specific charms include enmusubi (love and relationships, 800 yen) and academic success (700 yen). The most photographed spot, the moss-covered grounds with the black torii, is best at the early morning before the bamboo grove fills with day-trippers.

### When is the best time to visit Nonomiya Shrine?

Right at sunrise (around 6-7 AM) for the most peaceful experience and best light filtering through the surrounding bamboo. The annual Saio Procession (mid-October) features a costumed reenactment of the imperial princess's journey from the shrine, incredibly photogenic but very crowded. Mid-November adds maple foliage; spring brings cherry blossoms. Avoid weekends mid-day in peak seasons when the bamboo grove path is densely packed.

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Source: Nonomiya Shrine — Japan Voyage