Kitano Tenmangū in Japanese — 北野天満宮
Kitano Tenmangū is a Shinto shrine in Kamigyō-ku, Kyoto Prefecture. Written in Japanese it is 北野天満宮, read きたのてんまんぐう. Below is everything you need to get a taxi there: the characters to show, the reading, and a card you can print or keep on your phone.
Kanji
北野天満宮
| Kana | きたのてんまんぐう |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Kitano Tenmangū |
| English | Kitano Tenmangū |
| Category | Shinto shrines |
| Location | Kamigyō-ku, Kyoto Prefecture 上京区 |
How to ask for it in a taxi
- Show the driver: 北野天満宮
- Then point and say: ここまでお願いします (koko made onegai shimasu) — "please take me here".
- If asked which area: 上京区, 京都府.
- On arrival: 領収書をください (ryōshūsho o kudasai) — "please give me a receipt".
Shrine names repeat all over Japan — there are thousands of Hachiman and Tenjin shrines — so the city name on the card matters as much as the shrine name. Large shrines also have more than one gate; a taxi will normally stop at the main approach (表参道).
Nearby places of the same kind
- 賀茂神社 — Kamo Shrine, Kyoto
- 賀茂別雷神社 — Kamigamo Shrine, Kita-ku
- 平安神宮 — Heian Jingū, Sakyō-ku
- 吉田神社 — Yoshida Shrine, Sakyō-ku
- 八坂神社 — Yasaka Shrine, Higashiyama-ku
Frequently asked questions
How do you read 北野天満宮?
北野天満宮 is read きたのてんまんぐう, romanised Kitano Tenmangū. English-language sources usually write it Kitano Tenmangū. The kanji is what a taxi driver reads; the reading is only there so you know what you are handing over.
How do I show Kitano Tenmangū to a taxi driver in Japan?
Do not try to pronounce it. Show the driver the Japanese characters 北野天満宮 together with the sentence ここまでお願いします ("please take me here"). Use the button on this page to build a card with both, then save it to your phone or print it — it works with no mobile signal.
Do I also need the address for Kitano Tenmangū?
For a well-known Shinto shrine the name is usually enough, but adding 住所 (the address) removes all doubt, especially where several places share a name. This Shinto shrine is in Kamigyō-ku, Kyoto Prefecture; open the map link on this page to copy the exact address before you travel.