Kitano Tenmangu Shrine

北野天満宮

Head shrine of 12,000 Tenmangu shrines nationwide, dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, deified as Tenjin, god of learning and scholarship. Founded 947. Famous for 1,500 plum trees (50 varieties) blooming late winter. Students nationwide visit to pray for exam success.

北野天満宮

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine

Estimated Visit 45 minutes to 1 hour (2-3 hours during flea market)

Entrance Fee Shrine free, plum garden 1,000 yen (includes tea and sweets, Feb-Mar only)

Opening Hours 5:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Apr-Sep), 5:30 AM - 5:30 PM (Oct-Mar)

Real-Time Crowd Forecast & Foot Traffic

Monitored Chokepoint: Main Sanctuary & Plum Blossom Garden

Peak • 82% Density

Kyoto 13:21 JST

Best Window to Visit 07:00 – 08:30 (Morning Scholars’ Reverence)

Main grounds open as early as 05:00. Local students and scholars pray peacefully at the bronze ox statues before the school and commuter day begins.

Hourly Visitor Density (06:00 – 20:00)

06:00 — 30%

07:00 — 48%

08:00 — 68%

09:00 — 82%

10:00 — 88%

11:00 — 85%

12:00 — 80%

12h

13:00 — 82%

NOW

14:00 — 75%

15:00 — 62%

15h

16:00 — 45%

17:00 — 30%

18:00 — 15%

18h

19:00 — 0%

20:00 — 0%

Quiet (≤30%) Moderate (31-60%) Busy (61-80%) Peak (>80%)

Source: Kyoto Tourism Observation & Visitor Timing Model

Crowd-Beating Insider Tip

On the 25th of every month, the Tenjin-san Flea Market packs the perimeter. Arrive at 07:00 to browse antique kimono and pottery before alleys become shoulder-to-shoulder.

Prefer Solitude? Tranquil Alternative Hirano Shrine Sacred Cherry Grove

Skip tourist bus congestion → Explore peaceful sanctuary dossier

Key Architectural & Sacred Highlights

1,500 plum trees in 50 varieties (white, pink, red)
Learning deity shrine (students pray for exam success)
Monthly flea market on 25th (Tenjin-san, large and popular)
Beautiful autumn foliage (November)
Treasure House with National Treasures
Ox statues (messenger of Tenjin - rub head for intelligence)

📍 How to Get There

Nearest Station

Kitano Hakubai-cho Bus Stop (Buses 50, 101, 102, 203)

Step-by-Step Directions

1 From Kyoto Station: Bus 50 or 101 to Kitano Tenmangu-mae (30 minutes)
2 From Kinkaku-ji: Bus 101 or 102 (10 minutes, easy combination)
3 Monthly flea market on 25th (large, crowded, arrive early for treasures)
4 Free parking available but full on 25th and plum season

Location & Maps

🗺️ Interactive map - zoom and pan to explore

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Latitude: 35.03143

Longitude: 135.735512

View Location on Google Maps Get Directions from Your Location Open in Apple Maps (iOS/Mac)

💡 Tip: "View Location" shows the temple on the map. "Get Directions" navigates from your current position.

Best Time to Visit

Late February to mid-March for spectacular plum blossoms (1,500 trees). 25th of any month for large flea market (very popular). Autumn (November-early Dec) for maple trees.

Contact & Info

Website

Visit Website

Address

Bakurocho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, 602-8386

Planning Your Visit?

Book nearby hotels and get exclusive deals for your Kyoto trip.

View Hotel Deals

MrKyoto Live Now

Discover More

Sacred Sites of Kyoto

Fushimi Inari-Taisha

伏見稲荷大社

Tofuku-ji

東福寺

🏆

Kiyomizu-dera

清水寺

Yasaka

八坂神社

Kodai-ji

高台寺

Kennin-ji

建仁寺

Explore All

Book Kyoto Experiences

Nearby Temples & Shrines

These sacred sites are closest to Kitano Tenmangu Shrine and easy to combine in a single visit.

Hirano Shrine

平野神社

Free (temporary sakura garden area: 500 yen during peak bloom) · 30-45 minutes

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)

金閣寺

500 yen adults, 300 yen elementary/junior high students · 1 hour (one-way walking path, can't turn back)

Taizo-in Temple

退蔵院

600 yen · 30-45 minutes

Daitoku-ji Temple

大徳寺

Main grounds free, sub-temples 400-600 yen each · 1-2 hours (visit 2-3 sub-temples)

Ryogen-in Temple

龍源院

350 yen · 20-30 minutes

Imamiya Shrine

今宮神社

Free · 20-30 minutes (add time for aburimochi snack)

View All Temples & Shrines

Plan Your Visit

Itineraries

Include this temple

Transportation

Getting around Kyoto