02.01.2015
NORTH
We would like to introduce you to Shimogamo and Kamigamo area which has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in “Kyo no Kotabi”. We hope you receive good luck in a shrine as well as enjoying food containing red beens. People have cherished red beens as a food to ward off evil spirits and to protect them since ancient times, such as rice gruel including red beans eaten around January 15th, as well as Minazuki in June, which is a pastry to take away bad luck. Some people believe they can ward off evil spirits by visiting a shrine and eating tasty food. Why not visit a shrine in Kyoto to purify your body and mind at the beginning of the New Year.
- 1Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine
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Let's walk around the broad ground, and some people may like to pray at shrines such as Koto-sha where guardians of twelve animal symbols are enshrined, as well as Kawai-jinjya which many people believe protects women, and Aioi-sha which is good for match making.
- Address:59, Shimogamo-izumigawa-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
- Open:6:30 a.m. - 17:00 p.m.
- Access:10 minutes walk from Demachi-yanagi Station on the Keihan Otoh line or the Eizan line.
Near the Kyoto city bus stop, “Shimogamo-jinjya mae”. - Websites:http://www.shimogamo-jinja.or.jp/
- 2Saruya
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A tea house in the grounds of Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine. The shop has tasty Japanese sweets. People can enjoy eating them after visiting the shrine such as the famous “Saru-mochi” and the seasonal “Ryoen Zenzai”.
- Address:59, Shimogamo-izumigawa-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
- Open:10:00 a.m.- about 16:30 p.m., open everyday.
- Access:10 minutes walk from Demachi-yanagi Station on the Keihan Otoh line or the Eizan line.
- 3Tea Room, Isehan
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You can enjoy Japanese sweets made by the chef on the premises.
The famous “Isehan Tokusei Anmitsu” is popular throughout the year.- Address:242 Seiryu-cho, on the north of Kawaramachi Imadegawa, Kyoto, Japan
- Open:11:00 a.m.- 18-30 p.m.: last order 18:00 p.m.
- Closed:Tuesday, but if it is a national holiday, the tea room is open. Days closed are irregular depending on seasons.
- Access:5 minutes walk from Demachi-yanagi Station on the Keihan Otoh line or the Eizan line.
- 4Cafe Verdi
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Carefully made home roasted coffee is popular there. “Anko hot Sandwich” which uses red bean paste of Hosen-do. The sweet shop has regular customers.
- Address:Addy Shimogamo 1F, 49-24 Shimogamo-shibamoto-cyo, Sakyoku, Kyoto, Japan
- Open:8:30 a.m.- 20:00 p.m. On Sundays and national holidays, the cafe is open from 8:30 a.m.to18:00 p.m.
- Closed:Monday and the 3rd Tuesday of each month. If Monday and the 3rd Tuesday of the month are national holidays, those days the shop is open but the next days it is closed.
- Access:Near the Kyoto City bus stop, “Rakuhoku koko mae”
- Websites:http://www.verdi.jp/
- 5Marry France Kitayama shop
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A blue door distinguishes the bakery. There is a lot of not so sweet home-made mashed red bean paste enclosed in a thin layer of bread. It is called “Anpan”.
- Address:Eisanso building 1F, 44 Shimogamo-minamishiba-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
- Open:7:00 a.m.- 19:00 p.m. (On Sunday, 7:00 a.m.- 18:00 p.m.)
- Closed:Monday. If Monday is a national holiday, the shop is open and the next day it is closed.
- Access:Near the subway Karasuma line, Kitayama Station or Kyoto city bus station, “Kitayama eki mae”.
- Websites:http://www.marry-france.jp/
- 6Kamigamo-jinjya Shrine
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It is said that Japanese horse back riding and horse racing was started at Kamigamo-jinjya Shrine. It is also believed that deities descend on top of the white corn shaped sand in the shrine.
- Address:339 Kamigamo-honzan, Kita-ku, Kyoto, Japan
- Open:Inside of the Romon gate, 8:00 a.m.- 17:00 p.m. From November to March, 8:30 a.m.- 17:00 p.m.
- Access:Near Kyoto city bus stop, “Kamigamo-jinjya mae”.5 minutes walk from Kyoto city bus stop, “Kamigao Misosno bashi”.
- Websites:http://www.kamigamojinja.jp/
This information is correct as of January, 2014.