Kamigamo Shrine

京都府

World Heritage imperial guardian shrine predating Heian-kyo — home of the Aoi Matsuri procession

Type

Shrine

Visited

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Access

Right at City Bus Kamigamo-jinja-mae stop

339 Kamigamo Motoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto

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Info

Shrine

Enshrined Deity

賀茂別雷大神

Overview

One of Kyoto\'s oldest shrines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site enshrining Kamo Wake-ikazuchi no Okami. Established before the transfer of the capital to Heian-kyo, it has received the veneration of successive emperors as the guardian deity of the imperial capital. The Aoi Matsuri in May, held together with Shimogamo Shrine, is one of Kyoto\'s three great festivals. The two conical sand mounds called…

Origins

Tradition holds that the deity Kamo Wake-ikazuchi descended upon the sacred Mt. Kamo during the reign of Emperor Jinmu. The Kamo Festival is first recorded in 698, and the shrine was already revered by the imperial court before the Nara period. After the move of the capital to Heian-kyo in 794 it be…

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祭
Festivals & Events
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5月

Aoi Matsuri

One of Kyoto's three great festivals. About 500 participants in Heian costumes process from the Imperial Palace.

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Related Articles
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What God Is Enshrined at Kamo Shrine? — The Twin World Heritage Shrines, Guardians of Kyoto

The twin Kamo shrines of Kyoto — both UNESCO World Heritage Sites — enshrine the ancient Kamo clan deities. Shimogamo enshrines two deities of agriculture and ancestral protection; Kamigamo enshrines the thunder and directional guardian Kamo-wake-ikazuchi.

basics

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What God Is Enshrined at Kamigamo Shrine? — Kamo-wake-ikazuchi, Thunder, and Kyoto's Oldest Shrine

Kamigamo Shrine's principal deity, Kamo-wake-ikazuchi, is the divine thunder spirit born of a heavenly arrow, enshrined on the sacred Mt. Kouyama. When Kyoto became Japan's capital, this shrine became guardian of the imperial city. The May Aoi Festival is its most celebrated ritual.

basics

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Wagashi and Tea: How to Pair Omogashi and Higashi at Temple Visits

Rich thick matcha pairs with omogashi (fresh wagashi); light thin matcha pairs with higashi (dry sweets) — a precisely calculated design of sweetness and bitterness. From seasonal motifs to famous confectionery houses, this guide explains how to enjoy wagashi and tea at Kyoto temples.

basics

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Related Figures
— 1

Emperor Jinmu

First Emperor of Japan

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The deity of Kamigamo, Kamo Wake-ikazuchi no Okami, is deeply connected to the Kamo clan traditions linked to Emperor Jinmu's maternal lineage. Long venerated as the guardian of the imperial capital even before the Heian relocation, successive emperors offered rice paddies and provisions to the shrine. The Aoi Matsuri has been held continuously for approximately 1,600 years as an imperial festival of the highest rank, with the emperor's envoy attending.

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Visiting Information

Hours

Within the second torii gate: 5:30–17:00; within the tower gate and at the amulet office: 8:00–16:45. Prayer reception is 9:00–16:00. Special viewing of the National Treasure main hall is normally received 10:00–16:00 (until 16:15 on weekends/holidays).

Admission

Visiting the shrine grounds is free. Special access to the National Treasure main hall costs a 500 yen offering per person (junior-high-age or younger children accompanied by family are free). During special spring/autumn periods the fee rises to 1,000 yen for adults, varying by period.

As of 2026-07-17. Subject to change.

Official Links

@kamigamojinja.official

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Also Worth Visiting

Shimogamo Shrine

World Heritage shrine in the primeval Tadasu no Mori forest — venue of the Aoi Matsuri royal procession

3.0km