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Shimogamo Shrine (Japanese: 下鴨神社, Hepburn: Shimogamo-jinja) is an important Shinto sanctuary in the Shimogamo district of Kyoto city's Sakyō ward. Its formal name is Kamo-mioya-jinja (賀茂御祖神社). It is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan and is one of the seventeen Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto which have been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The term Kamo-jinja in Japanese is a general reference to Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine, the traditionally linked Kamo shrines of Kyoto; Shimogamo is the older of the pair, being believed to be 100 years older than Kamigamo, and dating to the 6th century, centuries before Kyoto became the capital of Japan (794, see Heian-kyō). The Kamo-jinja serve the function of protecting Kyoto from malign influences.
The jinja name identifies the Kamo family of kami or deities who are venerated. The name also refers to the ambit of shrine's nearby woods, which are vestiges of the primeval forest of Tadasu no Mori. In addition, the shrine name references the area's early inhabitants, the Kamo clan, many of whom continue to live near the shrine their ancestors traditionally served.
Amazing great shrine I got there very often since I live next to it! Really love the big park and it’s very quiet given there’s no matsuri or special event! On New Year’s Eve there’s are huge bone fires and it makes it a super place to be
Hugo MatteNov 11, 2017
Shimogamo-jinja Shrine seems to be more popular for Japanese visitors than for non-Japanese visitors, probably because temple itself does not provide much English or other foreign language road signs or direction signs. The temple hall is often off access, because of various activities, such as wedding ceremony. But, temple has one extremely attractive forest of broadleaf trees from public road to the temple hall. Many visitors seem to spend more time for taking photos with the "forest" than with the temple hall itself. In addition to traditional gift or souvenir items sold in most of the temples, Shimogamo-jinja Shrine also has rice wine and other local items, such as candy or Japanese cookie sales a few times a year at the open space outside the temple gate. To reach the temple, visitors have to take either bus or Keihan Rail, and bus waiting on rainy day, especially in holiday or weekend, can be difficult, and bus is often crowded. Thus, it is better to visit the temple on weekdays.
Ben HsuDec 28, 2017
Hidden behind some stores and shophouses facing the street, the shrine turns out to be a fairly quiet space in the winter with fewer events happening.
C OngDec 10, 2017
I went during the summer festival and it makes the whole shrine an even nicer place. You can experience purifying your feet in the icy waters of the sacred pond, lighting a good fortune candle, reading your omikuji in the water and of course the usual food, drinks and games present at any such shrine festival. Moreover or wasn't too crowded or touristy so I would definitely recommend going there.
S. HoeftJul 24, 2017
On the most important shinto shrines in Kyoto. It's a nice shrine, but looks quite like many other that you can see.
Ali LowNov 11, 2017
Amazing great shrine I got there very often since I live next to it! Really love the big park and it’s very quiet given there’s no matsuri or special event! On New Year’s Eve there’s are huge bone fires and it makes it a super place to be
Hugo MatteNov 11, 2017
Shimogamo-jinja Shrine seems to be more popular for Japanese visitors than for non-Japanese visitors, probably because temple itself does not provide much English or other foreign language road signs or direction signs. The temple hall is often off access, because of various activities, such as wedding ceremony. But, temple has one extremely attractive forest of broadleaf trees from public road to the temple hall. Many visitors seem to spend more time for taking photos with the "forest" than with the temple hall itself. In addition to traditional gift or souvenir items sold in most of the temples, Shimogamo-jinja Shrine also has rice wine and other local items, such as candy or Japanese cookie sales a few times a year at the open space outside the temple gate. To reach the temple, visitors have to take either bus or Keihan Rail, and bus waiting on rainy day, especially in holiday or weekend, can be difficult, and bus is often crowded. Thus, it is better to visit the temple on weekdays.
Ben HsuDec 28, 2017
Hidden behind some stores and shophouses facing the street, the shrine turns out to be a fairly quiet space in the winter with fewer events happening.
C OngDec 10, 2017
I went during the summer festival and it makes the whole shrine an even nicer place. You can experience purifying your feet in the icy waters of the sacred pond, lighting a good fortune candle, reading your omikuji in the water and of course the usual food, drinks and games present at any such shrine festival. Moreover or wasn't too crowded or touristy so I would definitely recommend going there.
S. HoeftJul 24, 2017
On the most important shinto shrines in Kyoto. It's a nice shrine, but looks quite like many other that you can see.
Ali LowNov 11, 2017
Amazing great shrine I got there very often since I live next to it! Really love the big park and it’s very quiet given there’s no matsuri or special event! On New Year’s Eve there’s are huge bone fires and it makes it a super place to be
Hugo MatteNov 11, 2017
Shimogamo-jinja Shrine seems to be more popular for Japanese visitors than for non-Japanese visitors, probably because temple itself does not provide much English or other foreign language road signs or direction signs. The temple hall is often off access, because of various activities, such as wedding ceremony. But, temple has one extremely attractive forest of broadleaf trees from public road to the temple hall. Many visitors seem to spend more time for taking photos with the "forest" than with the temple hall itself. In addition to traditional gift or souvenir items sold in most of the temples, Shimogamo-jinja Shrine also has rice wine and other local items, such as candy or Japanese cookie sales a few times a year at the open space outside the temple gate. To reach the temple, visitors have to take either bus or Keihan Rail, and bus waiting on rainy day, especially in holiday or weekend, can be difficult, and bus is often crowded. Thus, it is better to visit the temple on weekdays.
Ben HsuDec 28, 2017
Hidden behind some stores and shophouses facing the street, the shrine turns out to be a fairly quiet space in the winter with fewer events happening.
C OngDec 10, 2017
I went during the summer festival and it makes the whole shrine an even nicer place. You can experience purifying your feet in the icy waters of the sacred pond, lighting a good fortune candle, reading your omikuji in the water and of course the usual food, drinks and games present at any such shrine festival. Moreover or wasn't too crowded or touristy so I would definitely recommend going there.
S. HoeftJul 24, 2017
On the most important shinto shrines in Kyoto. It's a nice shrine, but looks quite like many other that you can see.
Ali LowNov 11, 2017
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