Yasui Kompira Gu Shrine
- Kyoto , History religion
- 29 Aug, 2025
This odd little shrine on the edge of Gion contains one of the most peculiar objects we’ve encountered anywhere in Japan.
If you blundered into this shrine after a few too many drinks in nearby Gion, you might wonder if you were seeing things: at its heart stands something that looks like some kind of Rastafarian igloo or an albino Snuffaluffagus.
This bizarre object is known in Japanese as the “enkiri/enmusubi stone.” This roughly translates as a stone that will bind good relationships tighter and sever bad relationships.
You buy a special piece of paper and write you name and wish on it. If you want to bind a good relationship tighter, you clutch the paper and crawl through the tunnel in the stone from front to back. If you want to end a relationship, you crawl through from back to front. Then, you grab the handy container of glue and affix your wish to the ever growing mountain of wishes festooning the stone.
English address:
70 Shimobenten-cho, Higashiyama-ku
Japanese address::
東山区下弁天町70
Opening hours:
Open 24 hours
Admission:
Free
Non-smoking area: Yes
Nearest Transport:
In front of Higashiyama Yasui Bus Stop, Kyoto City Bus 206 from Kyoto
Station
Telephone: 561-5127
Website: Official Website (Japanese)
Where Is This Place Located?
- Open the Kyoto map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
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- If you’re using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Near To Here:
Yasui-kompira-gu Shrine is located in Kyoto’s Southern Higashiyama
district. See our complete list of things
to do in Southern Higashiyama, including
places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.
Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- For a quick overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide.
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