Kamigamo Shake-machi

In short

A residential quarter of Shinto priests who served Kamigamo-jinja Shrine, extending to the east of the shrine. Its streetscape began taking shape in the Muromachi period, and the priest residences still line the Myojin-gawa River as they did in the past. In 1988 (Showa 63), it was selected as a national Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

• ​Myojin-gawa River, Earthen Bridges, and Earthen Walls​​: The earthen and stone bridges crossing the Myojin-gawa River, the earthen walls and gates enclosing the residences, and the greenery of the gardens visible over the walls create a landscape unique to a shake-machi
• ​Tsumairi Main Buildings and Inokosasu​​: The main buildings of the priest residences are single-story, gable-roofed (kirizuma-zukuri), and gable-entered (tsumairi), and on the gables, a distinctive decoration called inokosasu can be seen
• ​Priest Residence Gardens Drawing in Water​​: The Nishimura Family Garden, which once drew in the water of the Myojin-gawa River, and the Iwasa Family Garden, which still draws water from a tributary of the Myojin-gawa River and returns it to the river, are Places of Scenic Beauty designated by Kyoto City

History and Highlights

​Kamigamo Shake-machi​ is a residential quarter of Shinto priests who served the shrine, extending to the east of Kamigamo-jinja Shrine. The Nara-no-Ogawa, a clear stream flowing through the grounds of Kamigamo-jinja Shrine, changes its name to the Myojin-gawa River as it leaves the precinct and flows eastward. The streetscape here began taking shape as a residential quarter for priests during the Muromachi period. Because it was a settlement where priests and farmers lived alongside one another until the Meiji Restoration, it came to be called a shake-machi (priests' town). Although its shake-machi character began to fade after the Meiji era, the priest residences still line the Myojin-gawa River as they did in the past, preserving the appearance of a shake-machi that has been lost elsewhere. In 1988 (Showa 63), an area of approximately 2.7 hectares was selected as a national Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings under the name "Kyoto City Kamigamo Traditional Buildings Preservation District."

Viewing and Experience Highlights

• ​Myojin-gawa River, Earthen Bridges, and Earthen Walls​​: The flow of the Myojin-gawa River was drawn into the gardens of the priest residences and used by the priests as water for purification. The earthen and stone bridges crossing the river, the earthen walls and gates enclosing the residences, and the greenery of the gardens visible over the walls come together to create a landscape unique to a shake-machi.
• ​Tsumairi Main Buildings and Inokosasu​​: The main buildings (omoya) of the priest residences stand in the recessed parts of the plots and feature a distinctive form: single-story, gable-roofed (kirizuma-zukuri), and gable-entered (tsumairi). On the gables, a distinctive decorative timber frame called inokosasu can be seen.
• ​Priest Residence Gardens Drawing in Water​​: The Nishimura Family Garden, the garden of a former priest residence, was constructed to draw in the water of the Myojin-gawa River as two streams (yarimizu) and return it to the river. It contains a circular hollow thought to have been a site for mizugori (cold-water purification rituals), as well as stone arrangements said to be modeled after the Korinseki (descent stone) of Mt. Koyama. Along with the Iwasa Family Garden, which still draws water from a tributary of the Myojin-gawa River and returns it to the river today, it is designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty by Kyoto City.

Tips for Exploring

It is about a 2-minute walk after getting off at the "Kamigamo Jinja-mae" city bus stop. Along the Myojin-gawa River stands Fujinoki-jinja Shrine, a subordinate shrine (keigai massha) located outside the grounds of Kamigamo-jinja Shrine, which is enshrined beneath an ancient tree said to be 500 years old. As the preservation district protects not only the streetscape of the shake-machi but also the residential environment, please walk quietly in front of the residences. Kamigamo-jinja Shrine is introduced as a separate spot.