A Love-Seeking Trip to Kyoto: Three Must-Visit Matchmaking Shrines

By the MOOK Scenic Spots Travel Life Network Editorial Team

As Valentine’s Day approaches, promotions and bundled products themed around the holiday are everywhere, filling the air with romance. In contrast, single people may feel particularly lonely during this time. In Japan, there has even been a rise in people actively seeking partners through marriage-related activities. In addition to the popularity of speed dating, visiting shrines to pray for love and marriage is definitely not to be missed. If you’re visiting Kyoto, these three famous matchmaking shrines are absolute must-sees for singles.

● Doso Jinja (Earth Master Shrine)
Doso Jinja is the oldest shrine architectural style in Japan, where many emperors throughout history have held worship ceremonies. Historically renowned warriors and literati such as Taira no Kiyomori, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Iemitsu have all left records of their visits. Today, the shrine seems to have transformed into a popular spot for praying for love and marriage. At the entrance to the mountain path, a large "En" (meaning "destiny" or "connection") character and a "Good Match Prayer" sign attract countless men and women who come here to pray for good fortune in love. In front of the main hall of the shrine, there is a pair of "Love Fortune Stones" about 18 meters apart. It is said that if devout worshippers close their eyes, whisper the name of the person they admire, and walk straight from one stone to the other, they will surely achieve a happy marriage in the future. The number of people walking between the two stones represents the number of obstacles in one's love life, so it’s common to see people closing their eyes while others cheer them on—creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

【Info】 Transportation: Take City Bus No. 1 for 12 minutes from JR Kyoto Station and get off at Kiyomizu-michi, then walk for 10 minutes

● Kumano Nachi Taisha (Kifune Shrine)

Kifune Shrine is most famous for its red torii gate and the vermilion lanterns lining the approach. The scenery is tranquil and serene. The shrine enshrines the water deity, with water symbolizing the source of life and possessing purifying power. The clear water is believed to cleanse the dust from one’s soul, leaving one feeling refreshed and revitalized. Kifune Shrine is also known as the "Palace of Love" and is a renowned spiritual site where visitors can receive a "Love Oracle Water Divination." For just 200 yen, you can draw a fortune slip and then float it on water to reveal the divination result.

Additionally, from January 1st to February 28th, Kifune Shrine implements a special snow illumination event. Against a silver-white world, the vermilion lanterns lining the shrine’s approach shine brightly at night, creating a stunning contrast with the snowy scenery. The view is especially breathtaking, and netizens have even praised illuminated Kifune Shrine as "the most dreamy shrine in Japan in the snow." Travelers planning to visit Kyoto during this period might want to include it in their itinerary.