Shrine · Shimogamo / Sakyo

Shimogamo Shrine 下鴨神社

One of Kyoto's oldest shrines, approached through the Tadasu-no-Mori primeval forest at the fork of the Kamo river, with paper-doll purification, beauty charms and the Aoi Matsuri.

About

Shimogamo Jinja, officially Kamo-mioya Jinja, is older than Kyoto itself, its origins tracing to before the 6th century; with Kamigamo Shrine it was the protective shrine of the capital and is a World Heritage Site. It is reached through Tadasu-no-Mori, a 12-hectare forest of ancient zelkova, hackberry and camphor trees, never logged, with streams running through it. The vermilion Romon gate and the twin main halls, rebuilt in 1863, are National Treasures. The sub-shrine Kawai Jinja is devoted to female beauty: women buy mirror-shaped ema and draw their own faces with makeup. The Mitarashi stream, where in summer people wade barefoot at the Mitarashi Festival, gave its name to mitarashi dango, said to imitate the bubbles rising in its water. Shimogamo is the starting point of the Aoi Matsuri parade on 15 May.

Highlights

• Tadasu-no-Mori primeval forest approach
• Vermilion Romon gate and National Treasure halls
• Kawai Jinja beauty shrine with mirror-shaped ema
• Mitarashi stream, birthplace of mitarashi dango
• Aoi Matsuri in May, Mitarashi Festival in July

Tips

• Walk from the Kamogawa delta at Demachiyanagi up through the forest, the best approach.
• Try mitarashi dango at Kamo Mitarashi Chaya, said to be where the sweet was invented, 5 minutes north.
• Twelve small shrines for each zodiac sign sit in the Ohoi-dono; find yours.
• Early mornings in the forest are cool and nearly empty, even in summer.

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

Nearby

• Hanaore ShimogamoSushi & Seafood · 680 m away
• Eizan Railway Kurama LineTransit Hub · 920 m away
• Coin Lockers · Demachiyanagi StationLuggage Storage · 980 m away
• Kamogawa Delta Stepping StonesLocal Secret · 990 m away
• Demachi FutabaUnique Store · 1.0 km away
• Demachi Masugata ShotengaiLocal Secret · 1.0 km away
• Demachi Masugata Shopping StreetShopping Street · 1.0 km away
• DemachizaMovie Theaters · 1.1 km away