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Enshrined Deity — The Thunder God of Kamo
Kamo Wakeikazuchi no Ōkami
賀茂別雷大神
Kamo Wakeikazuchi, the deity of thunder who descended from heaven upon sacred Mount Kōyama, protects the ancient capital of Kyoto from all misfortune. As a powerful god of thunder and natural forces, he guards against disasters, lightning, and evil influences from unlucky directions. The Kamo clan, Kyoto's oldest family, has served this deity since before the city was founded. Paired with Shimogamo Shrine, these two Kamo shrines have guarded Kyoto as its spiritual sentinels for over 1,300 years.
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The Essence · 核心価値
核心的価値 — なぜここが特別なのか
核心价值 · 为何与众不同
由緒 · Why It Matters
Kamigamo Shrine was first established in 678 CE — over 1,340 years ago — making it one of Japan's oldest shrines and Kyoto's most ancient sacred site. It predates Kyoto's founding as capital by over a century. When Emperor Kanmu relocated the capital to Heian-kyō in 794, he designated Kamigamo and Shimogamo Shrines as divine guardians of the new city. The shrine holds 2 National Treasures (Honden & Gonden) and 41 Important Cultural Properties — a staggering concentration of heritage.
Imperial Guardian · 帝の守護
Emperor Kanmu and successive emperors made formal visits here, and the Aoi Matsuri was established as an imperial festival. The shrine's status as Ichinomiya of Yamashiro Province reflects its role as the spiritual anchor of what would become Japan's capital for over a millennium.
▶ 上賀茂神社の境内 — Experience the ancient shrine · 30 sec
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Plan Your Visit · 交通指南
旅の地図 — アクセス情報
交通指南 · 如何前往
- Kitayama Station (Karasuma Subway Line) — 15 min walk Or Kita-Ōji Station → Bus #37 to Kamigamojinja-mae
- Bus #4 from Demachi-Yanagi or Kyoto Station Via Kita-Ōji Bus Terminal to Kamigamojinja-mae
- From Tokyo — approx. 2h 15min Tōkaidō Shinkansen to Kyoto Sta. → subway Karasuma Line to Kitayama
- Parking on-site — ¥100/30min ¥500 during festivals and peak seasons
- Wheelchair access to main worship area Gravel paths in some areas of the grounds
- Grounds: 5:00–17:00 · Main shrine worship: 10:00–16:00 (¥500) Goshuin (stamp): 9:00–17:00 · ¥300
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Deep Insight · 深度探索
リピーターのこだわり — 知る人ぞ知る
深度探索 · 行家的坚持
UNIQUE
立砂 — The Sacred Sand Cones (Tatezuna)
Inside the Ni-no-Torii gate, two perfectly conical sand mounds stand before the Hosodono hall. These represent Mount Kōyama where the deity descended. The left cone has 3 pine needles at its peak (yang/odd), the right has 2 (yin/even) — embodying the yin-yang principle. These are the origin of the Japanese tradition of placing purification sand at building entrances.
FESTIVAL
葵祭 — Aoi Matsuri (May 15)
One of Kyoto's three great festivals, dating to the 6th century. A magnificent procession of 500+ people in Heian-period court costumes processes from the Imperial Palace to Shimogamo Shrine, then to Kamigamo Shrine. Every participant and ox cart is decorated with hollyhock (aoi) leaves, believed to ward off natural disasters.
INFO
神馬 — The Sacred Horse (Shinme)
On Sundays, national holidays, and festival days (9:30–15:00), the shrine's sacred white horse appears in the grounds. The horse is believed to be a divine messenger. The shrine's crow-shaped omikuji (fortune slips) represent the mythical Yatagarasu, the three-legged crow that guided the first emperor.
TIP
片岡社 — Kataoka-sha (Love & Marriage)
The first auxiliary shrine within Kamigamo's 24 sub-shrines, dedicated to the mother of the main deity. Since the Heian period, women have prayed here for romantic success — even Murasaki Shikibu, author of The Tale of Genji, is said to have visited. Heart-shaped ema (votive tablets) are popular.
UNIQUE
国宝本殿と権殿 — Twin National Treasures
The Honden (main hall) and Gonden (temporary hall) are both designated National Treasures, rebuilt in the Nagare-zukuri style every 21 years in a ceremony called Shikinen Sengu — similar to Ise Grand Shrine's famous rebuilding ritual. The current buildings date to 1863.
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Eat, Stay & More · 周邊資訊
周辺の滞在 — 食・宿・寄り道
周边信息 · 吃住游
Food · 食
神馬堂 (Jinbadō)
Legendary yakimochi (grilled mochi) since 1872. Handmade with azuki bean paste, sold fresh daily until sold out — arrive before 10am. A Kyoto institution.
Local · 食
今井食堂 (Imai Shokudō)
Local favorite near the shrine serving famous saba-ni (simmered mackerel). Hearty home-style meals loved by locals for decades.
Nature · 自然
京都府立植物園
Kyoto Botanical Garden — Japan's first public botanical garden (1924), 10-min walk south. 12,000 plant species, stunning cherry blossoms in spring.
Stay · 宿
上賀茂の京町家宿
Traditional Kyoto machiya guesthouses in the Kamigamo district. Intimate 1-group-per-day stays. Experience authentic Kyoto living steps from the shrine.
Pair Shrine · 次の一宮
下鴨神社 (Shimogamo)
The "lower" Kamo shrine, also UNESCO World Heritage. Together they form the paired spiritual guardians of Kyoto. 30 min by bus.
Nearby · 見水
賀茂川 (Kamo River)
The shrine sits along the Kamo River's upper reaches. Walk the riverbank path south toward central Kyoto for a beautiful journey through the city.
賀茂の神山と京都の守護 — The Sacred Mountain & Guardians of Kyoto
THE DIVINE PAIR THAT PROTECTS THE ANCIENT CAPITAL
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Kamo Wakeikazuchi
Thunder deity · The son who descended
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Tamayori-hime
The mother · Enshrined at Shimogamo
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Mount Kōyama
Sacred peak · Where the god descended
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Tatezuna
Sand cones · Origin of purification sand
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Yatagarasu
Three-legged crow · Divine messenger
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Emperor Kanmu
Founded Kyoto · Patron of Kamo shrines
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Yamashiro Province
Ancient Kyoto · Heart of Japan's culture
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1,340+ Years
Founded 678 CE · Predates Kyoto itself
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UNESCO World Heritage
2 National Treasures + 41 Important Cultural Properties
The mythology of the Kamo shrines tells how Tamayori-hime encountered a sacred arrow floating down the Kamo River. Taking it home, she became pregnant and bore a divine child — Kamo Wakeikazuchi. When the child was presented at a feast, he declared "My father is in heaven!" and ascended through the roof to Mount Kōyama. This thundering ascent gave him his name, "Kamo Wakeikazuchi" (Kamo's Young Thunder). The shrine was established where he descended, and when Kyoto became capital in 794, the Kamo shrines were designated its supreme guardians — a role they maintain to this day.