Shimogamo Shrine (Kamomioya-jinja)

The official name of the Shrine is Kamomioya-jinja. Due to its location downstream of the Kamo River that runs through Kyoto City, it is familiarized by the name “Shimogamo-san” and “Shimogamo Shrine.” The main shrine, consisting of two buildings in the east and west, is designated as a national treasure, and is one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto. It was also registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

The main shrine is located roughly 1km away from the entrance. The rich green “Tadasu no Mori” spreads before the main shrine. Around 600 trees of 200~600 years in age are planted, and create a sacred atmosphere.

Within the grounds, there are shrines of matchmaking, beauty, and success in contracts. During the five days from the end of July, the pond in front of the “Mitarai-sha,” where the god who wards of evil is enshrined, is crowded with people performing the “foot dipping Shinto ritual” in hopes of warding off diseases. Furthermore, the “mitarashi dango,” a dumpling covered in sweet sauce, is said to have been shaped resembling the water bubbles that spring up in the pond. It can be eaten in the tea houses located around the shrine.

Among the various events, I would like to recommend one of the three major festivals in Kyoto, Aoi Matsuri, a festival that prays for a good harvest. It started approximately 1400 years ago, and is held every year on May 15th. The "roadside ceremony” is a sight to see, where people wearing costumes of the Heian period parade from the starting point of the Kyoto Imperial Palace to Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine. It is a valuable opportunity to see the ancient Japanese culture up close. The “Yabusame” held at the “Tadasu-no-Mori” is also worth taking a look at. It is a Shinto ritual in which an archer dressed in a Kuge costume shoots a target from the top of a running horse, praying for the success of "Aoi Matsuri". It is held in early May.