Shrine · Arashiyama
Nonomiya Shrine 野宮神社
A tiny shrine inside the Arashiyama bamboo grove with a rare black, unbarked kuroki torii, where imperial princesses once purified themselves before serving at Ise.
About
Nonomiya Jinja marks the site where unmarried imperial princesses chosen to serve as the high priestess (saio) of Ise Grand Shrine spent a year in purification before their journey. It appears in the Tale of Genji, where Genji visits Lady Rokujo here. Its kuroki torii, made of oak logs with the bark left on, is one of the oldest torii styles, and a brushwood fence surrounds the precinct. Today it is a popular shrine for matchmaking and safe childbirth, with a sacred stone, Okame-ishi, that you rub while praying and that grants a wish within a year. The surrounding moss garden glows in rainy weather. The shrine opens onto the main path of the Arashiyama bamboo grove.
Highlights
- Kuroki torii of unbarked oak logs
- Moss garden in the bamboo grove
- Okame-ishi wish stone
- Tale of Genji connections
- Saigu Gyoretsu procession re-enactment in October
Tips
- Combine with the bamboo grove at dawn; the shrine is right on the path.
- The Saigu Gyoretsu procession, re-enacting the princess's journey, is held in October.
- Free, but pick up an enmusubi charm if you like.
- It can be crowded by 9:00; earlier is better.
Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09
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Open in the appNearby
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