YASAKA JINJA

Usually referred to as theGionshrine, Kyoto. Established as a protection against pestilence, it has retained more than some other shrines the combinatoryji-sha(temple-shrine) character of the pre-Meijiperiod in its architecture and in its festival, theGion matsuri, which is probably the best-known and most spectacular in Japan. It has about 3000 branch shrines (bunsha) throughout the country.