Kotohira-gū in Japanese — 金刀比羅宮
Kotohira-gū is a Shinto shrine in Kotohira, Kagawa Prefecture. Written in Japanese it is 金刀比羅宮, read ことひらぐう. 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
金刀比羅宮
| Kana | ことひらぐう |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Kotohiragū |
| English | Kotohira-gū |
| Category | Shinto shrines |
| Location | Kotohira, Kagawa Prefecture 琴平町 |
How to ask for it in a taxi
- Show the driver: 金刀比羅宮
- 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: 琴平町, 香川県.
- 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
- 吉備津神社 — Kibitsu Shrine, Kibitsu
- 土佐神社 — Tosa Shrine, Kōchi-shi
- 大山祇神社 — Oyamazumi Shrine, Imabari
- 小村神社 — Omura Shrine, Hidaka
- 竈山神社 — Kamayama Shrine, Wakayama
Frequently asked questions
How do you read 金刀比羅宮?
金刀比羅宮 is read ことひらぐう, romanised Kotohiragū. English-language sources usually write it Kotohira-gū. 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 Kotohira-gū to a taxi driver in Japan?
Do not try to pronounce it. Show the driver the Japanese characters 金刀比羅宮 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 Kotohira-gū?
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 Kotohira, Kagawa Prefecture; open the map link on this page to copy the exact address before you travel.