Oharano Shrine In Kyoto
About the Oharano Shrine Camera
Oharano Shrine sits in the Nishiyama hills on the western edge of Kyoto, in a part of the city that most visitors never reach. It is quiet in a way the Higashiyama temples no longer manage to be.
Its origins tie it to Nara. The shrine was established as a branch of Kasuga Taisha when the court moved briefly to Nagaoka-kyo in the late eighth century, so it carries the Kasuga lineage and its deer symbolism, transplanted to Kyoto before Kyoto itself existed.
The approach runs through trees that colour strongly in November, and the grounds hold a pond and a tea house. Because the setting is wooded and the site is off the main tourist circuit, this camera shows something closer to how most Kyoto shrines feel on an ordinary day.
Highlights & Nearby
- •Watch for: November colour along the approach, a quiet shrine on an ordinary day, snow in the Nishiyama hills
- •Nearby: Shoji-ji, Yoshimine-dera, the Nishiyama hills, Rakusai
- •Note: a branch of Nara's Kasuga Taisha, founded when the court moved to Nagaoka-kyo
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Oharano Shrine camera live?
Yes. It streams the shrine grounds continuously.
What is the shrine's connection to Nara?
It was founded as a branch of Kasuga Taisha when the imperial court moved briefly to Nagaoka-kyo in the late eighth century.
Where is it?
In the Nishiyama hills on the western edge of Kyoto, in Nishikyo ward, away from the main sightseeing routes.
When is it at its best?
November, when the trees along the approach turn, though it stays comparatively quiet year round.
