Matsunoo Taisha

Matsunoo Taisha is one of Kyoto's oldest shrines, predating the city itself. The site was originally a place of nature worship centered on the iwakura (sacred rock) at the summit of Mount Matsuno. The shrine was formally established in 701 AD by the Hata clan, powerful immigrants from Korea who brought advanced sake-brewing technology to Japan. This connection made Matsunoo Taisha the guardian deity of sake and brewing.

Throughout the Heian period, the shrine served as one of Kyoto's most important protective shrines, counterbalancing Kamo Shrine in the east. Successive emperors offered patronage, and the shrine maintained its prominence through the medieval and early modern periods.

The shrine is famous for its garden designed by renowned landscape architect Shigemori Mirei in 1975. The three-part garden—'Kyokusui no Niwa' (Curved Stream Garden), 'Joko no Niwa' (Ancient Garden), and 'Horai no Niwa' (Paradise Garden)—represents different eras of Japanese garden design and is considered a masterwork of modern landscape art.

The Kame no I (Turtle Well) spring has been used for sake brewing for centuries. Stacks of sake barrels from breweries across Japan line the approach, a colorful testament to the shrine's role as the patron of the brewing industry. The ancient tortoise and carp motifs throughout represent longevity and success.

The Shinko-sai Festival in April features six mikoshi (portable shrines) crossing the Katsura River by boat, a spectacular scene unique to Matsunoo Taisha. The Kanko-sai in May marks the return journey. The Sake Festival in October draws sake lovers from across Japan for tastings and prayers for a good brewing season. During this event, brewers from hundreds of sake companies gather to pray for success.