Kifune Jinja

Shrine · Kyoto

the shrine of love

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In short

A shrine to Kifune Okami, the deity governing the supply of water — and long famous as the shrine of love, with a subordinate shrine to a deity of matchmaking.

The lantern-lined stone stair climbing to Kifune Jinja. — Chi King / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Quick facts

Address: 180 Kuramakibunecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto

About this place

Kifune Jinja is at Kuramakibune in Sakyo, Kyoto. Its deity Kifune Okami is held to govern the supply of water. The shrine has long been celebrated as the shrine of love, and holds a subordinate shrine enshrining a deity of matchmaking. Alongside gratitude for the blessing of water, it names protection from water-related misfortune, safety of the household, prosperity in business, the fulfilment of wishes, and the warding off of misfortune.

Origin and history

Kifune Okami, the deity of Kifune Jinja, is held to govern the supply of water.

The shrine has long been celebrated as the shrine of love, and holds a subordinate shrine enshrining a deity of matchmaking.

Alongside gratitude for the blessing of water, it names protection from water-related misfortune, safety of the household, prosperity in business, the fulfilment of wishes, and the warding off of misfortune.

What it is locally associated with

Power spotLove & Romance
The shrine of love
The shrine has long been celebrated as the shrine of love, and holds a subordinate shrine to a deity of matchmaking.
documented history
Power spotProtection & Safety
The deity of water’s supply
Kifune Okami is held to govern the supply of water, and protection from water-related misfortune is named.
documented history
Power spotMoney & ProsperityWish Fulfillment
Household, trade and wishes
Beside gratitude for water, the shrine names household safety, prosperity in business, the fulfilment of wishes, and warding off misfortune.
documented history

This shrine has two faces that do not obviously go together. One is water. Its deity is held to govern the supply of water, which is where the shrine’s phrase for gratitude for water comes from, and why protection from water-related misfortune is on its list.

The other is love. The shrine has long been famous as the shrine of love, and a subordinate shrine within the grounds enshrines a deity of matchmaking. A shrine of the water deity has also been called the shrine of love.

Beside those it names the safety of the household, prosperity in business, the fulfilment of wishes and the warding off of misfortune — daily life, trade and wanting, listed at a shrine of water.

Claims and evidence levels 3

Kifune Okami, the deity of Kifune Jinja, is held to govern the supply of water. documented history
The shrine has long been celebrated as the shrine of love and holds a subordinate shrine enshrining a deity of matchmaking. documented history
It names gratitude for water, protection from water-related misfortune, household safety, prosperity in business, the fulfilment of wishes, and the warding off of misfortune. documented history

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