Popular wedding venues in Japan: The serene and elegant Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto

Photos and text byRight forty-five degrees up

Located in northern Kyoto, Shimogamo Shrine sits upstream of the Kamo River. If you’re wandering around northern Kyoto, the colorful and shaded Shimogamo Shrine is a great place to stroll.

Take a bus to the front of the shrine and enter via the west approach.

From here, you can visit the Ooi Hall and see the shrine’s national treasures.

The Maidono, as the name suggests, is a stage for performances. Shimogamo Shrine hosts many festivals every month, but the most grand is the Aoi Matsuri, which, along with the Gion Matsuri and Jidai Matsuri, is known as one of Kyoto’s Three Great Festivals, held annually on May 15. Legend has it that about 1,400 years ago, Kyoto suffered from famine, and Emperor Kinmei ordered a festival to be held to pray to the gods for an end to the disaster. On this day each year, the parade’s imperial carts, oxen, horses, and the attire of participants are all decorated with hollyhock leaves, hence the name. On the day of the festival, the procession departs from the Kyoto Imperial Palace, walks through the city center, and arrives at Shimogamo Shrine.

Shimogamo Shrine is said to host more weddings than any other shrine when viewed from above, and in just one hour, we saw three couples getting married.

This couple was the most joyful—one could tell the tourists were also happily taking photos with big “YAs.”

This groom’s kimono is quite unique—very nice.

Japanese photographers are very professional and detail-oriented when taking family group photos, and there’s always an assistant helping arrange everyone’s positions and outfits.

This photo is very traditionally Japanese—the bride’s outfit is really thick though. I imagine not many would want to wear something like this in summer for their wedding.

Ahead are the Hashidono and the Shinden. Shimogamo Shrine isn’t very large, and this is probably the only garden-like area here.

Looking at the Maidono from another angle—I imagine if there were actually dancing happening up there, it would be absolutely stunning.

The two leaves on the ema represent the hollyhock leaves of Shimogamo Shrine. Here, you can buy zodiac-specific ema as well.

Walking out along the main approach takes you down a beautiful tree-lined path—perfectly breezy in spring, extremely refreshing.

[Shimogamo Shrine] http://www.shimogamo-jinja.or.jp/
Location: 59 Izumigawa-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Phone: 075-781-0010
Visiting hours: 6:30–17:00
Closed: Open year-round
Admission: Free
Directions: Take city bus No. 1, 4, or 205 (approx. 25 min) to [Shimogamo Jinja-mae], or take the Keihan Main Line to Demachiyanagi Station and walk 2 min.