Kyoto, Kamigamo

Long ago, when the emperor and his court nobles still lived in Kyoto, the Kamigamo shrine always had a virgin from the emperors family as a head priestess. But times change. Virgins don't rule Kamigamo anymore, and now it is a popular place to get married if you are doing it Japanese style.

The shrine, also called Kamowake-ikazuchi Shrine, has two cones of sand in front of one of the halls, and gods are there believed to ascend from the heavens.

The shrine is situated up in the north, close to the mountains, and the green area on the precincts, between the two red torii gates, is a good place for a family picnic. There is a huge pink cherry blossom tree too, that gathers viewers and photographers in April.

Kamigamo is very close to the Kamo river, and it is possible to walk or ride a bicycle all the way up to the shrine from central Kyoto along the river. And a pleasant trip it would be for a change compared to crowded public transportation and the polluted, noisy streets. If the time, weather, and your physical condition is right.

And let us not forget; Kamigamo is on the world heritage list, and a national treasure.

Video clips

Kamigamo
Mp4 0:26min 2.9MB