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Kamigamo Shrine 上賀茂神社
Kita, Kyoto · Open in Google Maps
Kamigamo Shrine (Kamo-wakeikazuchi Jinja) is one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto and part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. It enshrines Kamo-wakeikazuchi, the thunder god of the Kamo clan, whose mother is worshipped at Shimogamo.
What to look for
- In front of the Hosodono hall stand two neat cones of white sand, the tatesuna, representing the sacred mountain where the god first descended.
- It shares the Aoi Matsuri with Shimogamo Shrine.
- A clear stream runs through the grounds, and the setting is open and spacious.
Enshrined kami
- Kamo-wakeikazuchi 賀茂別雷大神
What people pray for here
Warding off misfortune and protection from disasters.
Etiquette
It is further north than most sights; combine it with Shimogamo for a morning of Kyoto's oldest shrines.
New to shrines? Read our short guide to shrine etiquette: purifying your hands, bowing and clapping, offerings, omamori and goshuin.