Like Kamigamo Shrine, Shimogamo Shrine (officially Kamo-mioya Jinja) is said to be one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto. It is a hugely popular power spot, especially among women, and is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. (Sakyo-ku, Kyoto)
The shrine’s official name is Kamo-mioya Jinja. It enshrines Kamo-taketsunumi-no-mikoto and Tamayorihime-no-mikoto, the mother of the deity of Kamigamo Shrine.
Aioi-no-yashiro
Aioi-no-yashiro is a very popular power spot for bringing together good connections — in love, at work and beyond.
Mitarashi-sha
Mitarashi-sha, built over a well, is the shrine for purification. Around the Mitarashi Festival on the Day of the Ox in midsummer, spring water wells up from the stream and pond, which is why it is counted among the “Seven Wonders of Kamo”.
Maidono (dance hall)
The Maidono is where, during the Kamo Festival (Aoi Matsuri), the emperor’s envoy reads the imperial message and the Azuma-asobi dance is offered. It also served as a temporary sanctuary of the Imperial Palace. Since its rebuilding in 1628, it is said to have been dismantled and repaired every 21 years.
Sazare-ishi
Written with characters meaning “fine stones”, sazare-ishi appears in Japan’s national anthem, Kimigayo (“until the pebbles grow into boulders”). As the name suggests, it is a mass of small stones bound together. Because the stone is said to grow over the years, it is believed to be sacred.
Sori-bashi bridge
The arched bridge over the Mitarashi River is called Sori-bashi.
Blessings
- Good relationships and matchmaking
- Safe childbirth
- Child-raising
- Long life
- Study and learning
Information
- Shimogamo Shrine (Kamo-mioya Jinja)
- Address: 59 Shimogamo Izumikawa-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
- Phone: 075-781-0010
- Hours: 6:30–17:00
- Website (Japanese): https://www.shimogamo-jinja.or.jp
- By subway and bus: Subway from Kyoto Station to Kitaoji Station, then City Bus No. 1 or 205 (about 25 minutes) to Shimogamo-jinja-mae (or Tadasu-no-mori-mae)
- By bus: City Bus No. 4 or 205 from Kyoto Station to Shimogamo-jinja-mae (or Tadasu-no-mori-mae)
- By train: 12 minutes on foot from Demachiyanagi Station (Keihan Line)
- By taxi: about 20 minutes from Kyoto Station
- Information is as of the original Japanese article (2020). Please check the official website for the latest details before visiting.
Reporting: 山下大輔 / Text: EeNa editorial team
