Shimogamo Shrine, officially known as Kamo-mioya-jinja, is one of the 17 properties designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.” Its origins date back to the 6th century, predating the establishment of Kyoto as Japan’s capital. The shrine has long served as a spiritual guardian of the city and the ancestral shrine of the Kamo clan.

One of its most distinctive features is Tadasu no Mori, a vast primeval forest covering approximately 124,000 square meters. This ancient woodland has survived floods, fires, and urban development for centuries and is revered as a powerful spiritual space believed to purify both body and mind.

Shimogamo Shrine is also one of the principal venues of Aoi Matsuri, also known as Kamo-sai, one of Kyoto’s three most important festivals, held annually in May. The festival features a magnificent procession of participants dressed in elegant Heian-period court attire, ox-drawn carriages, and ritual offerings, recreating the atmosphere of ancient Kyoto.

Within the shrine grounds lies Kawai Shrine, renowned for prayers related to beauty. A unique highlight is the Kagami Ema (mirror-shaped wooden plaques), where visitors apply makeup to the plaque as a symbolic wish for inner and outer beauty. The shrine is also closely associated with Mitarashi Dango, a traditional sweet of five rice dumplings arranged to represent the human body, reflecting ancient purification rituals.

By Train (Recommended):

• Get off at Demachiyanagi Station (Keihan Line) and walk approximately 10–12 minutes through the entrance of Tadasu no Mori for the most immersive experience.

By City Bus:

Take bus routes 4 or 205

• Get off at Shimogamo Jinja-mae (closest to the main shrine buildings), or

• Tadasu no Mori / Mikage-dori to enter through the sacred forest.

• Enter through Tadasu no Mori to fully experience the spiritual transition from forest to shrine.

• Visit Kawai Shrine to try the Kagami Ema beauty prayer ritual.

• Try authentic Mitarashi Dango at Kamo Mitarashi Chaya near the western gate (closed on Wednesdays).

Admission Fee:

• Free admission
  (Some rituals or special prayer areas may require a small fee.)

Opening Time:

• Approximately 6:30 AM – 5:00 PM
  (Hours may vary depending on season and religious ceremonies.)