To enjoy sports, to be able to enjoy sports. Introduce you shrines that may protect you! Vol. 1

  • The one and only
  • Want to know
  • Hot spot for athletes
  • With the family
  • History
  • Football
  • Rugby
Copy URL
Kyoto City (Kyoto Pref.)
To enjoy sports, to be able to enjoy sports.
Introduce you shrines that may protect you! Vol. 1
People pray to god; I want to win the game, want to achieve results at the competition, want to play with no regrets, want to play sports safely without getting injuries, want to recover from illness or injury soon, etc…

There are many ancient shrines in Kyoto. Your wishes may be granted, so why don’t you visit them before or after games!

Vol.1) God of rugby and football; Shimogamo shrine in Sakyo-ku, Kyoto city

In the woods of the world heritage Shimogamo shrine, there is a riding ground on the long pathway to the shrine. A Shinto ritual horseback archery is held there. The ground is also used for holding rugby matches.
Watching rugby matches over large sacred cedar by the pathway is something special. The sound of umpire’s whistle reverberates in the place and it gives me a very odd feeling.
Though I’ve been living in Kyoto for many years, I didn’t know that there was a secret in the woods of Shimogamo shrine, which is one of the most revered shrine in Japan,
Rugby in Kansai region started in Shimogamo shrine; the god of football and the god of rugby are enshrined. Balls are dedicated to the shrine by famous clubs.
In 2019, a crowd people got together for a public screening to watch rugby world cup matches and their cheers reverberated in the place.
■Kamomioya shrine (Shimogamo shrine) [Please see the map below]

Address: Kyoto-shi, Sakyo-ku, Shimogamo izumigawa cho 59
Access: From Keihan railway station – 12-minute walk from “Demachiyanagi” station
     From JR or Kintetsu railway station – at “Kyoto” station, catch No. 4 or 205 city bus, and then get off at “Shimogamo jinjya mae” bus stop.
    From Hankyu railway station – at “Kawaramachi” station, catch No. 205 city bus, and then get off at “Shimogamo jinjya mae” bus stop.
Inquiry: TEL. 075-781-0010 (available from 9:00 to 18:00)

The sports and disciplines
of the World Masters
Games 2021 Kansai
held in the neighbourhood.

Chikako SHIMOKOBE
Introducing the poster

Chikako SHIMOKOBE

I would like to introduce Kyoto’s fun sport culture from Uji city in Kyoto prefecture.
After working as a local government officer, I retired. Now I am a “Shigin (Japanese poem) teacher” and a “University student” studying history & culture with online course.
I used to play tennis, however, I retired due to Achilles tendon rupture.
I love watching sports, but I don’t watch baseball because it causes family conflict.
At work, I promoted new sports, comprehensive sports club in the region, cycle tourism, etc.