07.15.2014
NORTH
EAST
SOUTH
The Kamo river has been flowing through the central part of Kyoto for all of its long history and it has always evoked various memories in people’s minds, whether you are Kyotoites or tourists. This time, we introduce you various charms of the Kamo river from eight different points of views. When you walk around Kyoto, please pay attention to the Kamo river, too
【 Up-stream of Kamo river 】
【 Down-stream of Kamo river 】
- 1Kifune “Kifune jinja Shrine”
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Kifune jinja Shrine in Kufune has a long history dating back to ancient times. It is located in the area which is one of the water sources of the Kamo river.
- Address:180 Kibune-cho, Kurama, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
- Open:6:00a.m.- 20:00p.m.(Opening and closing time vary according to the season.)
- Access:5 minutes walk from the bus stop of Kyoto bus, Kifune.
30 minutes walk from Kibuneguchi station on Eizan-Kurama line. - Websites:http://kifunejinja.jp/
- 2Branches of the Kamo river
(Nara-no-Ogawa in Kamigamo jinja Shrine) -
Some of the branches of the Kamo river flow into the grounds of the shrine and create atmospheric scenery.
One of the example is “Nara-no-Ogawa” which is running through the grounds of Kamigamo jinja Shrine.
Worshippers can relax and enjoy themselves there.- Address:339, Kamigamo-honzan, Kita-ku, Kyoto, Japan
- Open:8:00 a.m.- 17:00 p.m. (Inside the Tower gate)
8:30 a.m.- 17:00 p.m. (Nov.-March)
5:30 a.m.- 17:00 p.m. (Between the second Torii gate and the Tower gate) - Access:Only a short walk from the bus stop of kamigamo-Jinjya-mae,
5 minutes walk form the bus stop of Kamigamo-Misonobashi. - Websites:http://www.kamigamojinja.jp/
- 3Bridge (Sanjo-Ohashi Bridge)
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Each of more than 40 bridges over the Kamo river has its own historical episode. For example,
you can see the marks of sword fighting on the baluster finial of Sanjo-Ohashi Bridge.
It is the remnant of the historic event called Ikedaya Incidents which occurred in the last days of the Tokugawa regime.
- 4Violent River (Chugenji temple)
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Long-established Chugenji in Gion tells the history of the Kamo river which was feared as the “Violent River.”
- Address:585-1, Minamigawa Gion-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan
- Open:9:00 a.m.- 19:30 p.m.
- Access:Only a short walk from Gion-Shijo station on the Keihan-Honsen line.
- 5Restaurants along the river (KAWA CAFE)
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Visiting cafés along the Kamo river is one of the attractions of sightseeing in Kyoto.
For example, KAWA CAFE is a kyo-machiya (traditional wooden townhouses in Kyoto) style restaurant where you can enjoy brunch, coffee, dinner, bar, etc. You can enjoy the restaurant in various ways throughout the day.- Address:176-1,Minoya-cho,Matsubara-agaru,Kiyamachi-dori,Shimogyo-ku,Kyoto, Japan
- Open:9:00 a.m.- 24:00 a.m.
- Access:5 minutes walk from Kawaramachi station on the Hankyu-Kyoto line.
- Websites:http://www.kawa-cafe.com/
- 6Riverside creatures
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You can enjoy bird watching on the river bank.
- 7The stage for the festival
(Mikoshi-Arai purification ceremony in Gion festival) -
On the nights of July 10 and 28, the Shijo bridge becomes one of the stages for Gion festival.
- 8Traditional culture
(Kyo-Yuzen fabric flowing ceremony at the Kamogawa venue in Kyo-no Tanabata Festival) -
Yuzen Nagashi is one of the processes in dyeing kimono fabric and it used to be seen in the Kamo river in the olden days.
In the Kyo-no Tanabata festival in August, you can see a reproduction of the scene.
(The image is provided by the office of Kyo-no Tanabata committee. )
This information is correct as of July, 2007.