Kamigamo Shrine

Kamigamo Shrine (Photo: mTaira / Shutterstock.com)

Overview

Address

339 Kamigamo Motoyama, Kita Ward, Kyoto, 603-8047

( Map ) ( Directions )

Hours

5:30 - 17:00 Closed now

Opening Hours

Monday
5:30 - 17:00
Tuesday
5:30 - 17:00
Wednesday
5:30 - 17:00
Thursday
5:30 - 17:00
Friday
5:30 - 17:00
Saturday
5:30 - 17:00
Sunday
5:30 - 17:00
Holidays
5:30 - 17:00

Price

Free

Phone

075-781-0011

Website

kamigamojinja.jp

Highlights

Romon Gate

Romon Gates (Tower Gates) are imposing red structures built to mark entrances to important places in Japan. In Kamigamo Shrine, visitors cross a small red bridge over the water to get to the Romon Gate. The gate stands at the entrance to the Honden and Gonden buildings that lie within. Unlike torii gates, there are only a few sites in Japan that have Romon Gates.

Tatezuna

Tatezuna are the large conical sand mounds sitting at the entrance of the main shrine building. It is said that their conical shape was constructed to represent the sacred Mt. Kouyama. Mt. Kouyama is the mountain in which the patron deity of Kamigamo Shrine is said to have descended from. The Tatezuna of Kamigamo Shrine are allegedly the inspiration for the practice of forming sand mounds or scattering sand at new construction sites to ward off evil.

Honden & Gonden

Reconstructed in 1863, the Honden is the main shrine building. Gonden is an exact replica of the Honden, built as a backup for the shrine deity in case of any damage done to the original. Both are designated as National Treasures. Every year on May 15, Kyoto’s Aoi Matsuri is held at the Honden building.

General Amenities

Information Counter
Prayer rooms

What's unique

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Access

20 minutes on foot from Kitaoji Station

15 minutes walk from Kitayama Station

30-minute bus ride #4 Kyoto City Bus from JR Kyoto Station get off at last stop Kamigamo Shrine