World Cultural Heritage Series ~ Kamigamo Shrine

#100 Ways to Travel Kamigamo Shrine ~ "The ghost gate guarding Kyoto for thousands of years on the banks of the Kamogawa River" Kyoto is the area with the highest concentration of shrines in Japan, but do you know where the oldest shrine in Kyoto is? I visited it two years ago, but I didn’t know at the time that it was the oldest shrine in Japan! Now come and follow my footsteps to learn about this shrine full of culture and legends! 🎒Myth: (1) In the ancient times of the Gods, a scarlet arrow fell from the sky with thunder, and was brought back to the bedside by the princess of the "Kamo Clan", "Kamo Tamaki". At the same time, the princess became pregnant and gave birth to a baby. A boy is "*Kamo Betsu Raimei" and is also the chief deity of the shrine ⛩️~ (2) Kamo's grandfather once held a banquet and invited all the gods to attend the feast. His grandfather picked up the wine glass and said to Bere nobility: "Give the glass to whoever you think is the father of the gods!" Bere noumei said " Tianjin God" was my father, and he ascended to heaven with a thunder. (3) Not long after, Kamo Tamaki missed her son very much. One day, Bie Lei asked her in a dream to make "Tian Yu Shang" and "Ten Yu Yi", and use sakaki wood as the carrier of attachment; and then use the branches and vines of sunflower and osmanthus as decoration. , you can see me again in the future! And~this is exactly the origin of the three major festivals in Japan, "Aoi Matsuri"~~! The venue is "Kamigamo Shrine⛩️"~ 📓Small addition: The original meaning of "Kamo Betsu Raid" is "a god with powerful abilities like dividing thunder." In addition, the Kamo family has a deep relationship with the "Onmyoji". It is said that the shrine was built at that time to suppress Kyoto. "Ghost Gate" 📖Class time: It is said that it was built during the era of "Emperor Jimmu" and has a history of 2,600 years. It is the oldest shrine in Kyoto. The "main shrine" and "Gonden" are listed as national treasures, and almost all the buildings inside are Designated as an important cultural property and listed as a "World Cultural Heritage" in 1994! ! ✨Must-see highlights: ～Tatesha and Xiden～ There are two sandstones in front of the main hall. They are piled up based on the impression of Kamobetsu thunder coming to the sacred mountain. If you have good eyesight, you will see that the sandstone on the left has "three-leaf pine leaves", while the sand on the right has "three-leaf pine leaves". There are "two-leaf pine leaves". In the concept of yin and yang, "odd numbers are yang and even numbers are yin". Through the concept of yin and yang harmony, we pray for the appearance of gods. The other function of fine sand is to exorcise evil spirits, so the fine sand is piled up to guard the ghost gate and prevent Heian Kyo from being invaded. Purifying sand is sold nearby. It is said that taking it home can keep you safe~ ~Main shrine area~ ➡️In front of the shrine gate: The gate was built in 1628 and is currently designated as one of the national important cultural properties. ➡️Loumen: There is a bridge in front of the tower called "Jade Bridge". The river below the Jade Bridge is the "Omonoji River". It is not normally crossed. Only priests who are performing "sacred ceremonies" can cross it! ➡️Nakamon: Built in the late Edo period, it is the place connecting the main hall and the Gonden Hall. The "Honden" enshrines "Kamo Betsu Raimei". The "Gonden" has the same purpose as the main hall. Both halls are listed as national treasures~ ➡️The main hall: This is a place that only clergy can enter. If ordinary people want to enter, they need to pay extra and be led in by clergy. Generally, tourists will only worship in front of the middle gate with "two salutes, two claps and one salute"🙏 🎫 Ticket price: 500 yen ⌚️Time: 10:00-16:00 ~ Katayama Tamako Shrine⛩️~ Walking back along the main shrine and passing Kataoka Bridge, you will see that the main enshrined deity is "Kamo Tamaki", the mother of the God of Thunder. The shrine is in charge of "love💕", "bonding", "safe childbirth", etc. If you want to request Don’t miss out on a good marriage! The famous "Murasaki Shikibu" also came here to pay homage! ! ~Nara no Ogawa~ Inside the shrine⛩️ there are the "Omonoji River" and the "Omori Aigawa". The former is more sacred related to sacred matters, and the latter is a stream that can purify people's hearts. When the two rivers converge, it is the "Nara no Ogawa"! ~Kamiyama Yongshui Coffee. Fried☕️~ It is a coffee shop ☕️. The coffee brewed here is made with the water from the Kamo Beretsu when it came to the sacred mountain. The coffee is priced at 400 yen. It is recommended to taste it with wagashi 🍡 🕰️Business hours: 10:00-16:00 📍Address: 339 Kamigamo Motoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto City ~Go to Kamo Shrine ⛩️Original Lotus~ ➡️Yatatori Royal God Lotus: Yatara is said to be the ancestor of the Kamo family. When Emperor Jimmu went on his Eastern Expedition, it was said that Yatara was the guide, so it is also called the "God of Guidance". If If you feel confused about the future now, you might as well take one home! ➡️Horse God's Lotus: It is part of the Aoi Festival celebration. It is said that Japan's "horse racing culture" originated from this ～Cherry blossom viewing🌸～ It is also a famous cherry blossom viewing spot in Kyoto. The viewing time is from late March to late April. There is a 150-year-old "Saio Sakura" that you must go to see! ! ~Shenmashe🐎~ In Japanese mythology, if you want to greet the gods, you need to ride a horse with bells to greet them. Therefore, there is a "Kamo Horse Racing" event on May 5th every year, and every Sunday and national holidays at 09: From 30-15:00, there will be a tour inside Shenma Shrine for everyone to visit! ~🎆Important Festival~ "Kamo Racing": Started in 1093, it is held grandly on May 5th every year to pray for a good harvest and the coming of the gods. It is also a part of the prelude to the "Aoi Festival". Riders will compete wearing "Takumi" and "Komabo" and it is listed as an "Intangible Folk Cultural Property"! 🕰️Business hours: 5/5 every year (starts at 13:00) 💰Per capita consumption: 500 yen "Aoi Matsuri": Also known as "Kamo Matsuri", it is held on May 15 every year. It is one of the three major festivals in Kyoto. Since ancient times, it has been a festival attended by the "royal family👑". The costumes are decorated with "Aoi leaves" and " "Kusana leaf" is used as decoration, and we walk all the way from Shimogamo Shrine to "Kamigamo Shrine"~ 🕰️Business hours: Every year on 5/15 (departure from Kyoto Imperial Palace at 10:30, arrival at Kamiga at 15:30 🚴Transportation: From Kyoto Metro Karasuma Line "Kitaoji Station", transfer to bus "No. 4" and get off at "Kamigamo Shrine-mae" or "No. 9" and get off at "Nishigamo Garage Line" 📍Address: 339 Kamigamo Motoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto City 🕰️Business hours: 05:30-17:00 💞Recommended reasons: 1. Just say that you must go to World Heritage Sites 2. There are many intangible and tangible cultural properties 3. The Aoi Matsuri and Kamo Horse Racing events are both worth visiting. 4. Famous place for cherry blossom viewing🌸 🗓️Itinerary: Nijo Castle-Seimei Shrine⛩️-Kamigamo Shrine⛩️ #WorldCulturalHeritageSeries #KYOTOtourism #cherry blossom viewing spots #Kyoto’s oldest shrine #哈马竞技 #久久sai