Shimogamo Shrine, Shinto sanctuary in Sakyo district, Kyoto, Japan
Shimogamo is a Shinto sanctuary in Sakyō-ku, Kyoto, where vermilion wooden halls stand between the Kamo and Takanogawa rivers. Curved bridges cross small streams that flow through the grounds beneath a canopy of old trees.
Shrine tradition dates the founding to the reign of Emperor Jimmu, and a fence repair is recorded in Emperor Sujin's seventh year, around 97 BC. The shrine was rebuilt every 21 years from 1036 to 1322, and most buildings were reconstructed in 1629 in Heian-period style. In 807 it received the Senior First Rank and the Kamo Festival became an imperial rite.
The Aoi Matsuri on May 15 is jointly held with Kamigamo Shrine. A saiō-dai, a woman chosen as the festival's imperial representative, purifies herself with water from the Mitarashi Shrine pond before the procession. Kemari, a traditional ball game, is played by Shinto priests in the shrine grounds on January 4.
The sanctuary opens daily from 5:30 AM to 6:00 PM and visitors can walk through multiple buildings, gardens, and paths across the grounds. Comfortable shoes help when exploring the different areas connected by gravel walkways.
The Kemari Hajime ceremony is held at the shrine on 4 January, when players in Heian-period robes kick a deerskin ball around a court without letting it touch the ground. Shinto priests also play kemari, a game introduced to Japan from China in the 7th century.
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