 In 965, Emperor Murakami ordered that Imperial messengers were sent to report important events to Japan's guardian "kami", including Kamo Wake-ikazuchi.Kamigamo, along with the Shimogamo Shrine, was designated as one of two chief Shinto shrines ("ichinomiya") for the former Yamashiro province.From 1871 through 1946, Kamigamo was officially designated one of the , meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines.