建勲神社

Kenkun Shrine, formally known as Takeisao Shrine, sits on the wooded middle slope of Mount Funaoka in Kyoto's Kita-ku district and was founded in 1870 during the early Meiji period. Its principal kami is the deified spirit of Oda Nobunaga, the Sengoku-era warlord who came closer than any predecessor to unifying Japan before his assassination in 1582; his son Oda Nobutada is enshrined as a secondary deity. The practice of deifying feudal ancestors flourished across Japan from the late Edo period onward, but few such shrines carry the historical weight of Nobunaga's legacy, making this a pilgrimage site for history enthusiasts as much as worshippers. Designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan, the shrine retains a composed, forested atmosphere that feels removed from the surrounding city. The annual Nobunagsai festival on October 2nd draws visitors marking the anniversary of Nobunaga's death at Honnoji.