Written by JC Team
Imamiya Shrine Yasurai is a festival to chase away sickness — Kyoto style.
What happens?
Once a year, Kyoto’s Imamiya Shrine becomes the stage for the Yasurai Matsuri, one of the city’s three great “mysterious festivals”. Steeped in legend, this centuries-old ritual aims to calm a mischievous deity who, during cherry blossom season, abandons his shrine to spread illness. The solution? Lure him back with color, music, and dance.
At noon, the procession sets off from Kōnen-ji Temple, winding through Kyoto’s streets with flower-adorned umbrellas, masked oni dancers, and taiko drummers. The spectacle reaches Imamiya Shrine, where performers drum and chant in a bid to restore health and harmony. Locals line up to walk under the festival’s red umbrellas, believed to ward off sickness for a year, because who doesn’t want a supernatural health boost?
Schedule
The Yasurai Festival takes place on the second Sunday of April each year.
In 2025, that’s April 13.
The procession departs from Kōnen-ji Temple at noon, arriving at Imamiya Shrine around 3 p.m.
How to get there
From Kyoto Station, take City Bus Route 205 to Funaokayama Bus Stop, then walk 7 minutes to Imamiya Shrine.
Alternatively, take the Karasuma Subway Line to Kitaōji Station, then City Bus Route 01 to Funaokayama Bus Stop (7-minute walk).
Another option is to take City Bus Route 46, which stops at Imamiya Jinja-mae bus stop, 1 minute from the shrine.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.