ABOUT
About this spot
Kamowake-ikazuchi Shrine, popularly known as Kamigamo Shrine, stands in the Kamigamo district of Kita Ward, Kyoto. Its principal deity is Kamowake-ikazuchi no Okami, and together with Shimogamo Shrine it has long been revered as one of the two Kamo shrines. The name "Kamigamo" (upper Kamo) came into use when the shogunate asked that the two shrines be told apart. The shrine is a component of the World Heritage site "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto." According to shrine tradition it was founded in 677. A 698 entry in the Shoku Nihongi already mentions the horse-archery of the Kamo festival, so rites were being held by the end of the 7th century. After the capital moved to Heian-kyo it was honored as a guardian of the imperial city and received the highest Shinto rank in 807. For roughly 400 years an imperial princess served here as the Saiin priestess. The grounds were extensively restored under Tokugawa Hidetada in 1628. The main hall and the secondary hall (Gonden), both rebuilt in 1863 in the sanken-sha nagare-zukuri style, are National Treasures and carry painted guardian-dog figures by the Kano school. The vermilion Romon gate, the Hosodono hall, the Butaiden, the corridors and Kataoka Bridge are Important Cultural Properties. In front of the Hosodono stand the conical sand mounds called Tatesuna, modeled on the sacred mountain Kamiyama. The Myojin River runs through the precinct, which holds many small shrines and the garden Shokeien. The best-known events are the horse-racing ritual on May 5 and the Aoi Festival on May 15. Visit early in the morning for quiet, or in fresh green and autumn color seasons. Allow about one to one and a half hours. From Kyoto Station take city bus No. 4 to Kamigamo-jinja-mae, right at the shrine. Nearby are Kinkaku-ji (about 3 km), Ryoan-ji (about 4 km) and Nijo Castle (about 5 km).
Last updated October 18, 2026