Osaka or Kyoto?
Looking for Namba Yasaka Shrine, with the giant lion head?
That shrine is in Osaka, not Kyoto. It is called Namba Yasaka Shrine, and it is about 6 minutes on foot from Namba Station.
This site is about a different shrine: Yasaka Shrine in Gion, Kyoto.
How are the two different?
| Namba Yasaka Shrine | Yasaka Shrine | |
|---|---|---|
| City | Osaka | Kyoto |
| In Japanese | 難波八阪神社 | 八坂神社 |
| Known for | A lion-head stage 12 m high | The vermilion West Gate on Shijo-dori; the Gion Matsuri |
| Nearest station | Namba Station (Osaka Metro Midosuji and Yotsubashi lines), about 6 min | Gion-Shijo Station (Keihan Line), about 5 min |
| Address | 2-9-19 Motomachi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka 556-0016 | 625 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0073 |
The Japanese names differ by one character: 阪 in Osaka, 坂 in Kyoto. Both are read "Yasaka".
Namba Yasaka Shrine in brief
The lion-head hall is 12 m high, 7 m deep and 7 m wide, and was finished in 1974 together with the main hall. Its eyes are lights and its nose is a speaker.
| Namba Station (Osaka Metro Midosuji and Yotsubashi lines) | About 6 min on foot |
|---|---|
| Nankai Namba Station | About 6 min on foot |
| Daikokucho Station (Osaka Metro) | About 7 min on foot |
| Address | 2-9-19 Motomachi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka 556-0016 〒556-0016 大阪市浪速区元町2-9-19 |
Sources: lion-head hall, access (Namba Yasaka Shrine official site, Japanese). Checked 20 October 2026. We don't list its opening hours: the shrine doesn't publish them on its site.
Looking for the one in Kyoto?
You're in the right place. Yasaka Shrine in Gion is open 24 hours and free to enter.
Is Yasaka Shrine crowded right now?Getting there from Kyoto StationLast updated: