Karuta Hajime Ceremony at Yasaka Shrine | New Year Tradition in Kyoto 2026”

On January 3, 2026, we visit Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto to experience one of Japan’s most elegant New Year traditions — the Karuta Hajime Ceremony.

This beautiful annual event begins at 1:00 PM on the shrine’s Noh stage.
Performers dressed in magnificent Heian-period court costumes, including the famous junihitoe (twelve-layer kimono), compete in the classical Japanese card game karuta, based on the poetry anthology Hyakunin Isshu.

The ceremony is held as a New Year offering, celebrating learning, culture, and the hope for wisdom in the coming year.
Best of all, admission is completely free, making it one of Kyoto’s most accessible and rewarding cultural experiences for travelers.

Highlights

• Authentic Heian-era costumes and atmosphere
• Live karuta matches requiring extreme memory and reflexes
• Rare opportunity to witness classical Japanese culture in action
• Peaceful winter setting at one of Kyoto’s most famous shrines

History

Karuta is a traditional competitive card game based on the Hyakunin Isshu, a collection of 100 classical Japanese poems.
Yasaka Shrine’s main deity, Susanoo-no-Mikoto, is closely associated with poetry and classical learning, which is why this ceremony has long been performed here as part of the New Year observances.

How to Get There

Location: Yasaka Shrine, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto
From Kyoto Station, take City Bus 206 and get off at Gion — the shrine is directly in front of the stop.
Alternatively, it is a 5-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station or 10 minutes from Higashiyama Station.

• Date: January 3, 2026
• Time: 1:00 PM (approx. 60 minutes)
• Admission: Free
• Recommended: Arrive early for better viewing

Karuta combines poetry, memory, speed, and discipline.
Many competitive players memorize all one hundred poems, often beginning their training in childhood.
https://www.yasaka-jinja.or.jp

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