Want to get the full anime experience? Stroll along the Kamo River and hop across the stepping stones at the Kamogawa delta where Kamo River and Takano River meet. K-On aside, the Kamo River is the beating heart of Kyoto, originating in the mountains to the north and stretching 23 kilometres long through the city.

Historically, these waters were used for Shinto ablution ceremonies called misogi. Sacred bathing was a revered summer tradition, and continues today at the Shimogamo Shrine's Mitarashi Festival. Additionally, stones from the river have found their way into the glaze of traditional raku pottery.

The river's name, Kamo, traces back to a clan predating Kyoto's capital status in the late 8th century. This legacy endures at the Shimogamo and Kamigamo Shrines, both linked to the Kamo family.