Kawa no Kami - River Spirits
The kami dwelling in rivers, honored for providing water and fertility.
Rivers are venerated as the dwelling places of kawa no kami, who provide the water essential for agriculture and daily life. Waterfalls, river confluences, and deep pools are especially sacred. River festivals honor these kami and pray for protection from floods.
The river kami carries life-giving water from mountain to sea.
River veneration shows the Shinto appreciation of water as a divine gift.
Folk traditions