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Saiin orItsuki no In (斎院) were female relatives of theJapanese emperor (termed saiō) who served as High Priestesses inKamo shrines. Saiin princesses were usually elected from royalty (内親王,naishinnō) or princess (女王,joō). In principle, Saiin remained unmarried, but there were exceptions. Some Saiin became consorts of the Emperor, called Nyōgo in Japanese. The Saiin order of priestesses existed throughout theHeian andKamakura periods.

Saiin is also the name given to the palace where the Saiin Priestesses lived and served theShinto deities.

InThe Tale of Genji, a famous work of Japanese literature, there is a story about a man namedHikaru Genji who yearned for a Saiin Princess named Asagao, but Asagao maintained a platonic relationship with Genji.

The 11th century storySagoromo Monogatari tells the story of an unrequited love between the protagonist and Genji no Miya, who later becomes the Kamo Saiin.

Princess Shikishi (Shikishi Naishinnō), 3rd daughter of Emperor Go-Shirikawa and Fujiwara no Seishi, was appointed High Priestess of Kamo shrine in 1159, at the age of six. She resigned her position in 1169 due to illness. After her resignation Shikishi went on to become an accomplished poet. 399 of her poems remain in existence today.

1. 810–831 Princess Uchiko (有智子内親王) (807–847), daughter ofEmperor Saga^[1]
2. 831–833 Princess Tokiko (時子内親王) (?–847), daughter ofEmperor Ninmyō
3. 833–850 Princess Takaiko (高子内親王) (?–866), daughter ofEmperor Ninmyō
4. 850–857 Princess Akirakeiko (慧子内親王) (?–881), daughter ofEmperor Montoku
5. 857–858 PrincessJutsushi (述子内親王) (?–897), daughter ofEmperor Montoku
6. 859–876 PrincessGishi (儀子内親王) (?–879), daughter ofEmperor Montoku
7. 877–880 Princess Atsuko (敦子内親王) (?–930), daughter ofEmperor Seiwa
8. 882–887 PrincessBokushi (穆子内親王) (?–903), daughter ofEmperor Kōkō
9. 889–892 Princess Naoiko (直子女王) (?–892), daughter of Prince Korehiko
10. 893–902 Princess Kimiko (君子内親王) (?–902), daughter ofEmperor Uda
11. 903–915 PrincessKyōshi (恭子内親王) (902–915), daughter ofEmperor Daigo
12. 915–920 Princess Nobuko (宣子内親王) (902–920), daughter ofEmperor Daigo
13. 921–930 PrincessShōshi (韶子内親王) (918–980), daughter ofEmperor Daigo
14. 931–967 PrincessEnshi (婉子内親王) (904–969), daughter ofEmperor Daigo
15. 968–975 PrincessSonshi (尊子内親王) (966–985), daughter ofEmperor Reizei
16. 975–1031 PrincessSenshi (選子内親王) (964–1035), daughter ofEmperor Murakami
17. 1031–1036Princess Kaoruko (馨子内親王) (1029–1093), daughter ofEmperor Go-Ichijō
18. 1036–1045 PrincessKenshi (娟子内親王) (1032–1103), daughter ofEmperor Go-Suzaku
19. 1046–1058 PrincessBaishi (禖子内親王) (1039–1096), daughter ofEmperor Go-Suzaku
20. 1058–1069 PrincessShōshi (正子内親王) (1045–1114), daughter ofEmperor Go-Suzaku
21. 1069–1072 Princess Yoshiko (佳子内親王) (1057–1130), daughter ofEmperor Go-Sanjō
22. 1073 Princess Atsuko (篤子内親王) (1060–1114), daughter ofEmperor Go-Sanjō
23. 1074–1089 PrincessSeishi (斉子内親王), daughter of Ko-Ichijo In (Prince Atsuakira)
24. 1089–1099 PrincessReishi (令子内親王) (1078–1144), daughter ofEmperor Shirakawa
25. 1099–1107 PrincessShinshi (禛子内親王) (1081–1156), daughter ofEmperor Shirakawa
26. 1108–1123 PrincessKanshi (官子内親王) (1090-?), daughter ofEmperor Shirakawa
27. 1123–1126 PrincessSōshi (悰子内親王) (1099–1162), daughter ofEmperor Horikawa
28. 1127–1132Princess Muneko (統子内親王) (1126–1189), daughter ofEmperor Toba^[2]
29. 1132–1133 Princess Yoshiko (禧子内親王) (1122–1133), daughter ofEmperor Toba
30. 1133–1159 PrincessIshi (怡子女王), daughter of Prince Sukehito
31. 1159–1169 PrincessShikishi (式子内親王) (1149–1201), daughter ofEmperor Go-Shirakawa
32. 1169–1171 PrincessZenshi (僐子内親王) (1159–1171), daughter ofEmperor Nijō
33. 1171 PrincessShōshi (頌子内親王) (1145–1208), daughter ofEmperor Toba
34. 1178–1181 Princess Noriko (範子内親王) (1177–1210), daughter ofEmperor Takakura^[3]
35. 1204–1212 PrincessReishi (礼子内親王) (1200–1272), daughter ofEmperor Go-Toba.^[4]

• Kamo shrines
• Ise Grand Shrine
• Saikū

• Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1962).Studies in Shinto and Shrines. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society.OCLC 399449
• ____________. (1963).Vicissitudes of Shinto. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society.OCLC 36655

• History of religion in Japan
• History of Kyoto
• Japanese Shinto priestesses
• History of Shinto
• Saiin (priestess)

• Articles containing Japanese-language text