Visit Japan Web Kamigamo Jinja
Visit Japan Web invites you to explore Kamigamo Jinja, one of Kyoto’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The shrine became the object of Imperial patronage during the early Heian period. Kamo-mioya jinja was granted a divine seal for use on documents. The seal would have been enshrined in its own unique mikoshi. This practice conformed to a pattern established by Emperor Konin in 778.
Kamigamo has a rich history as one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Kyoto. Along with the Shimogamo Shrine, it is considered as the chief Shinto shrines for the former Yamashiro province. They are also referred to collectively as the Kamo Shrines.
From 1871 through 1946, Kamigamo was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha. It stood in the first rank of government supported shrines.
The name “jinja” identifies the Kamo family of kami or deities who are venerated. The name also refers to the ambit of shrine’s nearby woods, which are vestiges of the primeval forest of Tadasu no Mori. In addition, the shrine’s name references the area’s early inhabitants, the Kamo clan, many of whom continue to live near the shrine their ancestors traditionally served.
The shrines grounds combine swathes of nature and expanses of pale gravel. The buildings have different styles yet are somehow harmonized in natural wood against the brilliant vermilion of its gates and fences. A rather interesting sight on the grounds is in front of the worship hall. There are two sand constructions called tatesuna that represent the divine mountain. Sometimes the shrine’s sacred horse is stabled on the property. Host to festivals such as the Aoi Matsuri, the ancient Kamigamo Shrine is worth a visit.
