The shrines and temples that can be seen at night are mysterious. You can feel a different atmosphere from the daytime, with the beautifully illuminated buildings and the quiet temple grounds.
Just walking slowly through the magical and sparsely populated temple grounds will relieve your stress and fatigue. In this article, we will explain the charm of visiting shrines and temples at night, as well as things to keep in mind when sightseeing, so be sure to stop by at the end of your day.
■The charm of shrines and temples at night
Shrines and temples at night have a mysterious charm.
The quiet precincts, free from the noise during the day, are so mysterious that they will take your breath away. Learn about the charm of shrines and temples at night and enjoy a magical time.
Enjoy a fantastic view when lit up
One of the attractions of shrines and temples that can be visited at night is the view of them lit up. The illuminated historic buildings and torii gates look very magical.
The illuminated shrines and temples, combined with the surrounding scenery and lights, create an atmosphere that you can enjoy without even entering the temple grounds.
You can worship at your own pace
Even though shrines and temples are crowded during the day, there are fewer people at night, so you can visit at your own pace.
Recommended for those who want to take a quiet walk while observing the decorations on the buildings and torii gates within the temple grounds and getting a sense of the history of the shrines and temples.
■3 shrines and temples you can visit at night in Kyoto
We will introduce three shrines and temples that you can visit at night in Kyoto.
Popular shrines and temples that are usually crowded with worshipers become quiet and solemn at night. Please enjoy this along with a stroll through the atmospheric streets of Kyoto.
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Fushimi Inari Taisha is a shrine famous for its “Senbon Torii,” a line of vermilion torii gates.
It is said that there are approximately 10,000 vermilion torii gates, and the path with the 1,000 torii gates is crowded with tourists during the day.
At night, you can see the lights shining through the gaps between the Senbon Torii gates. The area around Senbon Torii is dark and there are not many people, so you can experience the mysterious feeling of wandering into another world.
The main hall is also illuminated, creating a fantastical atmosphere.
Yasaka Shrine
Yasaka Shrine is a shrine located in the center of Kyoto City that is known for warding off evil spirits and bringing good luck.
Many lanterns are dedicated to the Maiden in front of the main shrine of Yasaka Shrine. At night, the lanterns are lit up, allowing you to experience the atmosphere and time of Kyoto.
Let’s take a walk or pray while relying on the dim light lit by the approximately 1 million lanterns at the gate and in the precincts.
Mikane Shrine
Mikane Shrine is famous as a shrine that can be visited 24 hours a day to improve your financial luck. The trademark golden torii gate and the shrine grounds are illuminated, and many Japanese people stop by on their way home from work.
Mikane Shrine is surrounded by sightseeing spots such as Nijo Castle, restaurants, and hotels, making it easy for tourists to stop by.
Although the shrine office is closed at night, you can still visit the main shrine and purchase amulets.
■3 shrines and temples in other areas that you can visit at night
We will introduce three shrines and temples in areas outside of Kyoto that you can visit at night.
It is a crowded tourist spot during the day, but at night there are fewer people and you can enjoy a leisurely visit. If you visit the area where the shrines and temples we introduced are located, please stop by.
【Mie Prefecture】 Futami Okitama Shrine
Futami Okitama Shrine is located in Futamiura, Ise City, Mie Prefecture, and is also famous for Meoto Iwa. The Meotoiwa Rocks are lit up from sunset, and many tourists visit especially during the full moon from October to January, saying, ”You can see the full moon between the Meotoiwa Rocks.”
The precincts are lit and you can visit the shrine 24 hours a day, but the darkness makes the frog statue look a bit creepy. Please bring a flashlight and watch your step when walking at night.
[Tokyo] Sensoji Temple
Sensoji Temple in Tokyo is illuminated from sunset until around 11pm, making it a bright and easy-to-walk temple. Nakamise Street, which is lined with eateries and souvenir shops, is closed, but you can still buy fortune slips.
Sensoji Temple is crowded with many worshipers during the day, but at night there are fewer people, so you can take your time to admire things such as Kaminarimon, the Nio statue, and the Great Waraji.
[Hiroshima Prefecture] Itsukushima Shrine
Itsukushima Shrine is a shrine located in Hiroshima Prefecture. Itsukushima Shrine itself is closed at night, but it is illuminated from 30 minutes after sunset until around 11 p.m.
The illumination can be enjoyed both from land and from a cruise ship, and you can enjoy a mystical appearance that is different from the one seen during the day. If it coincides with the high tide, a pleasure boat may take you close to the Otorii gate.
If you want to fully enjoy the illumination of the precincts and five-storied pagoda in addition to the Otorii, it would be a good idea to stay overnight on Miyajima Island and take a walk.
■Points to note when visiting shrines and temples at night
When visiting shrines and temples at night, be careful not to disturb nearby residents.
Also, unlike during the day, public transportation may not be in operation depending on the time of day. Please research the means of transportation to and from your destination in advance.
Keep conversations and music to a minimum and keep quiet
When visiting shrines and temples that are open for sightseeing at night, be considerate of the surrounding residents and keep conversation and noise to a minimum.
For example, it is necessary to ”conversate in a low voice,” ”keep the sound of doors opening and closing as quiet as possible,” ”set your cell phone to silent mode,” and ”use earphones and lower the volume of music to avoid sound leakage.”
Obey the rules and manners established at shrines and temples
Each shrine and temple has its own rules, such as ”no photography allowed” and ”no-entry areas.” Also, since shrines and temples are public places, it is important to take precautions such as not littering and being quiet.
Violating the rules and etiquette not only damages the scenery of shrines, temples, and the area, but also makes it difficult to continue visiting the shrines at night. Be sure to follow the rules and etiquette even when it’s dark and unattended at night.
Check the bus and train times for your return trip.
Even if you can visit shrines and temples at night, public transportation may not be in operation depending on the time of day.
Therefore, it is best to research and reserve bus and train times and taxi contacts in advance.
■Summary of shrines and temples you can visit at night
Shrines and temples that can be visited at night have fewer people than during the day, so this is recommended for those who want to leisurely explore the temple grounds without worrying about their surroundings.
It’s dark and a bit scary, but the illuminated shrines and torii gates look beautiful and mysterious, giving you a magical experience that will make you feel like you’re in another world.
When visiting shrines and temples at night, please remain quiet and be careful not to disturb nearby residents. Let’s enjoy a magical Japanese night while observing good manners.
【Q＆A】
Q.I heard that it is not good to go to shrines at night.Why?
A. There are various theories as to why it is said to be bad to go to shrines at night.
・Time when god is resting
・Because it is not popular, it is easy to encounter suspicious ・People and wild animals.
・Dark and easy to get injured office is closed
・It is a time when there are many unclean things (spiritual things).
For the reasons mentioned above, it is said that you should refrain from visiting the shrine at night, but you can visit the shrine at night as long as the hours are open. However, please visit the shrine with as many people as possible and be careful of your surroundings and your feet.
Q. What are the recommended points for visiting shrines and temples at night?
A. The recommended point of visiting shrines and temples at night is that you can enjoy a mysterious atmosphere that is different from the daytime. You can experience the feeling of wandering into a solemn and mysterious world, with the quiet precincts and vaguely projected shrines. Also, since there are not many people, you can enjoy the scenery while visiting the shrine.
