The deities of Shimogamo Shrine are believed to reside on Mount Hiei and an elaborate procession is enacted on the 12th May to bring the deities from the mountain to the shrine. According to the ...

The Imperial Messenger (Chokushi) views the Kurabe Uma Shinji (horse-racing) from this building. KAMIGAMO SHRINE: The Kamo Shrines (Kamigamo and Shimogamo) are among the most important in Kyoto.

Aioi-no-yashiro, a small shrine on the grounds of Shimogamo Jinja Shrine in Kyoto, is known to have a “god of matchmaking” as its guardian deity. When I visited the place, numerous “ema ...

Players in vibrant traditional attire revived the ancient ball game of kemari as part of a New Year ritual at Kyoto’s Shimogamo Shrine.

Though a rare sight these days, it is played at the start of each year at the Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto. Eight people attempt to keep the deerskin ball in the air using only the instep of their ...