Shimogamo Shrine

Kyoto’s oldest shrine in the midst of a sacred forest
Shimogamo Shrine, formally known as Kamomioya-jinja, is one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto, and is located just north of the Tadasu-no-mori forest. Every year on May 15, the Aoi Festival procession—much like a picture scroll from the Heian period—departs from the Imperial Palace and makes it way to the Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines. The shrine also hosts the Mitarashi Festival in July, during which participants wade through the shrine’s Mitarashi River to protect themselves from the summer heat and pray for good health.

[Fee] Free
[Access] Approx. 8 min. walk from Demachiyanagi Station on the Keihan Line;
City Bus from JR Kyoto Station, and a short walk from the Shimogamo-jinja-mae bus stop
[Foreign Language Support] No