Last Updated: Dec 30, 2023

Yasui Konpiragu

How this Kyoto Shrine Saved Me from Myself

This story was originally published on donnykimball.com and has been syndicated here on Medium

In my many travels across Japan, I’ve visited A LOT of shrines. Though I’ve certainly been moved by many of these Shinto sanctuaries over the years, none ever managed to bring me to tears. That all changed recently when I visited Kyoto’s Yasui Konpiragu. Found in the Gion district, this shrine is famous all across Japan for its ability to sever the connecting threads of fate (a process that is known as enkiri in Japanese). As a result, this place is perfect for breaking off bad relationships and troubled partners from all corners of the nation flock here in hopes of bringing an end to their romances.

Unbeknownst to many, Yasui Konpiragu’s power is not limited only to the realm of love. The shrine can also help put an end to other “relationship” varieties too. As you’ll see if you go there yourselves, there are many people looking to cut off friendships that have gone south as well as those hoping to escape abusive workplaces. Essentially, insomuch as Yasui Konpiragu and enkiri are concerned, the definition of relationship is pretty loose. The bond you break can be anything from an unsavory romance to a damaging bad habit.

Why I found myself at Yasui Konpiragu is quite the tale. The short version is that, since becoming a…