The Oldest Shrine in the City of Kyoto
Shimogamo Shrine is located in the lower section of the Kamogawa River.
The official name is Kamomioya Shrine (賀茂御祖神社（かもみおやじんじゃ))
The reason why this shrine is famous because would be Aoi Festival.
What is Aoi Matsuri (Aoi Festival)?
The Aoi Matsuri is one of three major festival in Kyoto.
The following is the explanation from Kyoto City Tourism Association.
賀茂御祖神社（下鴨神社）と賀茂別雷神社（上賀茂神社）の例祭で、5月15日に行われる。古くは賀茂祭、または北の祭りとも称し、平安中期の貴族の間では、単に「祭り」と言えば葵祭のことをさすほど有名であった。
この祭の特徴は、平安時代以来、国家的な行事として行われてきたので、わが国の祭のなかでも、数少ない王朝風俗の伝統が残されているということである。
The following is the translation.
It is the lagest annual festival of Shimogamo Shrine and Kamikamo Shrine. It is held every May 15th. In old days, it was called Kamosai or Kita no Matsuri (lit. Northern Festival). In the middle of Heian period (about 10th century), simple “Matsuri (lit. festival)” meant Aoi Matsuri for aristocrats. The festival was so famous.
The feature of this festival is that it still remains traditions of dynasty customs which are less in other Japanese festivals as it has been held as a national event since Heian period.
(the translation by Nao )
In addition, according to the above website, the festival has been held since 1400 years before. Wow, incredible.
And, Shimokamo shrine is famous as “The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl”？
(Yoru ha Mijikashi Arukeyo Otome 夜は短し歩けよ乙女)
It seems to be interesting. I will read the book!
There is a native forest called “Tadasu no Mori ” (糺ノ森（ただすのもり）” in Shimogamo Shrine.
How old the trees?
Mitarashi Ike (Pond) and Mitarashi Gawa (River)
It seems not to be a river… (The depth is only 2 cm or less) but it is a river!!
The water gets so clean as fireflys were back!! BTW, the water of rivers in Kyoto is very clean. It quite different from Tama Gawa River.. The river will get clean if Tokyo challenges?
Fortunes
I drew three different fortunes.
Regular type fortune
It is made of color paper. (BTW, the red one is my camera case. Please don’t mind it).
Mizu Mikuni (Water Fortune)
You can see the fortune telling after dipping to water.
Koi Mikuni (Love Fortune)
The piece of fortune seems to be different between girls and boys. The fortune is based on the Tale of Genji (源氏物語Genji Monogatari) which is Japanese classic literature.
The fortune can be used for a book mark. It is cute. Usually, “Fortune of Shimogamo Shrine” seems to mean this fortune.
Off The Subject
Insho Kigan Sai (印章祈願祭 lit. Stamp Prayer Festival) was held. It seems to have had fun. A work shop to make a stamp for Japanese calligraphy was also held. I would have joined it if I had enough time though…
Other events also were held.
I wanna go again.
Reference
Shimogamo Jinja
Aoi Festival (in Japanese)
TripAdvisor (To see the review)
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