Shirakawa Sosui

Shirakawa Sosui - Shimogamo Shrine - Botanical Gardens　白川疎水～下賀茂神社～京都府立植物園

Overview

An interesting ride in north Kyoto follows the curved street called Shirakawa Sosui. This is a canal that runs from the Takano River to the Kamo river, just south of the bridge at Kita Oji Dori.

This street is blessed with a row of cherry trees, and has little traffic.

Aoi Festival Shimogamo Shrine	Shirakawa Sosui Canal

Getting to the Starting Point

From City Hall, ride due east across the Oike Bridge. Turn left on Kawabata Dori and head north. At the Kamo Ohashi Bridge on Demachiyanagi Dori, continue straight to the next bridge. Turn left and cross back towards the City Hall side of the river (this is where the river forks - the first fork is the Takano River, the west fork is the Kamo River).

Do not cross the second river - the Kamo - but turn right and head up a pine tree-lined street.

At the next bridge, the Kyoto Family Court building will be on your right. Continue north one more block. Turn right on Mikage Dori. On your left is Shimogamo Shrine.

Directions

After the Shrine, go back to Shimogamo Dori, and head north. The map below tells you to head right at the top of the shrine through a neighborhood that is quaint. If you are in a hurry, continue on Shimogamo Dori to Kitaoji Dori.

Go straight five blocks until you hit the curving cherry tree-lined canal street. Turn right and ride until you get to the Takano River.

When you get to the Takano River, turn around and head back until, preferably on the opposite side of the canal, and ride until you get to the Kyoto Botanical Gardens. Other nearby stops in Kitaoji are Vivre, a shopping mall, and the Kamo River.

Total Riding Time

Two hours.

Places of Interest

Shimogamo Shrine

59 Shimogamo Izumigawa-cho Kyoto
075 781 0010

Entrance Fee: 600 yen

Kyoto Botanical Gardens

Hangi-cho, Shimogamo, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi 606-0823
075 701 0141

Entrance Fee: 200 yen

Public Bath

075 462 1225

Entrance Fee: 420 yen

Map

Shirakawa Sosui Route

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