賀茂神社, Shinto shrine in Japan

Kamo Shrine, also called Mikarino-no-mori Kamo Jinja, is a Shinto shrine in Kamo-chō, Ōmihachiman, founded in 736 by Emperor Shōmu with Kibi no Makibi. Its honden faces northeast, the front kimon, an orientation attributed to yin-yang divination. The 30,000-tsubo grounds hold the Wakamiya and Musubi shrines, a Fudō-dō with five Myōō statues, and a Kōshin-dō.

The shrine was established in the 8th century on orders of Emperor Shomu to protect the region from natural disasters and illness. Over the centuries, it evolved into a center of worship while maintaining its connection to local traditions and the community's way of life.

The shrine honors horses as sacred animals, reflecting a tradition where these creatures were central to daily life and community well-being. Visitors can observe how horses remain present in rituals and festivals, showing how this ancient bond between people and animals continues to shape the place today.

The shrine is free to enter during the day and has parking nearby. Visitors can reach it by bus from Ōmihachiman Station or by car, approximately 15 minutes from the Ryu-Oh interchange.

The Ashifuse Sōme race closes the spring Kamo Festival: seven horses run seven heats of two along a straight 400-metre track, and the winner earns a place in the Kamo Keiba-e races at Kyoto's Kamigamo Shrine. The shrine keeps Japan's largest sacred-horse statue, and a new hall for horse spirits is planned.