Shimogamo-jinja

A long strip of forest sandwiched between the two rivers in the north of the city, Shimogamo-jinja is, like the Kyoto Imperial Palace Park, a good place to go when you need some space and greenery. While it’s not worth a special trip, it’s a nice place for a stroll if you find yourself in this part of town. Shimogamo-jinja dates from the 8th century and is a Unesco World Heritage site. The shrine itself is approached along a shady path through the lovely Tadasu-no-mori. This wooded area is said to be a place where lies cannot be concealed and is considered a prime location to sort out disputes. The shrine is dedicated to the god of harvest. Traditionally, pure water was drawn from the nearby rivers for purification and agricultural ceremonies. The Hondō dates from 1863 and, like the Haiden hall at its sister shrine, Kamigamo-jinja, is an excellent example of nagare-style shrine architecture.