Jishu Shrine: the current status
Jishu Shrine is a shrine on the grounds of Kiyomizu-dera. It is known for its pair of love stones. At the moment the shrine is closed while its buildings and grounds are repaired. The reopening date is open and no year is fixed, so do not plan a trip around a visit.
Opening hours you may see elsewhere for the shrine do not apply while it is closed. Before you travel, check the current status for the shrine as well as for the temple.
This is an independent guide, not the shrine or the temple. If you came for the love stones, read on for what they are, and for what you can do at the temple in the meantime.
The love stones and the custom
A tradition, not a promise.
The shrine has a pair of stones. The custom is to walk from one stone to the other with your eyes closed while you hold a wish for love in mind.
This is a long-standing custom and not a proven effect. Treat it as a tradition that visitors enjoy, and do not read it as a prediction.
While the shrine is closed, the stones cannot be offered as an activity on a visit. Do not book anything that promises the stone walk until the shrine has reopened.
Kyoto tours and Higashiyama walks
Guided walks past Kiyomizu-dera, Sannenzaka and Gion, with live prices and availability. Check whether temple entry is included.
What to see while Jishu is closed
The rest of the grounds is separate from the shrine.
The main hall and stage
The main hall and its wooden stage are the center of the visit. The stage is about 13 m high and dates from 1633.
Stage guide →The Otowa Waterfall
Three streams of water fall below the hall. Visitors catch the water with ladles. The temple links the water to purification and to wishes.
Otowa Waterfall →Pagoda and gate
The three-storey pagoda is about 30 m high, and the Niomon is the main gate. Both are on the usual route.
History of the temple →Zuigu-do and the dark passage
Under the Zuigu-do hall there is a dark passage called Tainai-meguri. It is a walk in near darkness and may not suit everyone who is uneasy in tight or dark spaces.
Beyond the temple
Places to walk after your visit.
Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka
The old stone lanes between the temple and the Higashiyama area.
Gion
The historic district, with rules for photos and private alleys.
Entry and opening hours
Prices and hours for 2026, including the evening openings.
If you would like another Kyoto shrine on the same trip, the independent guide to Fushimi Inari covers the shrine with the long rows of gates.
How to plan around the closure
Simple steps.
Check the status before you travel
Look at the current notice for the shrine and the temple before you leave. No reopening year is fixed.
Keep the visit flexible
Count the stage, the waterfall and the lanes as the main sights. Treat the shrine as a possible extra and not as a reason for the trip.
Come back later
When the shrine reopens, the love stones can be added to a visit. Until then, use the rest of the grounds and the lanes below.
A route through the temple without Jishu
Hours and stops in 2026.
Hours
The grounds open at 06:00 every day. Closing is at 18:00 for most of the year, and at 18:30 from 1 July to 31 August except the evening openings. See entry and opening hours for the full calendar.
The main hall and Okuno-in
Okuno-in lies above the waterfall and has its own stage. From there you can look back at the main hall stage and out over Kyoto.
The waterfall
The Otowa Waterfall is a separate stop on the grounds. The three streams are a place for a short prayer and the wait varies.
The evening openings
On a few evenings the grounds stay open until 21:30. The night illumination page lists the 2026 dates.
Jishu Shrine: frequently asked questions
Is Jishu Shrine open?
No. It is closed for repairs of its buildings and grounds, and the reopening date is open. Check the current status before you travel.
When will Jishu Shrine reopen?
No year is fixed. Do not rely on a year you read elsewhere.
What are the love stones?
They are a pair of stones. The custom is to walk from one to the other with your eyes closed while you hold a wish for love in mind. It is a tradition and not a guaranteed effect.
Can I still do the love stone walk?
Not while the shrine is closed. Do not book anything that promises it.
How much is entry to the temple?
Adult admission is JPY 500 and admission for elementary and junior high school students is JPY 200 in 2026. The shrine is closed, so it is not part of a visit at present.