Ota Shrine in Kita Ward, Kyoto is the sessha (a shrine for the guest deity) of famous Kamikamo Shrine. Ota Shrine is famous for the iris swamp called “Ota no Sawa”, which is fed with natural spring water from nearby hills. The irises of the swamp are designated as one of the national Protected Spieces. These elegant and pure irises that have not changed for 10,000 years are in full boom in May. The annual festivals are held on the tenth day of every April and October, where the village kagura dance is dedicated all day long. This kagura dance comes from the legend about Amenouzume no Mikoto, an enshrined deity of this shrine. In a Japanese mythology, when Grand Sun Goddess, Amaterasu Oomikami hid herself in the cave, Amenouzume performed a dance enticing Amaterasu out of the cave. In April the cherry blossoms are also in full bloom and make a fresh contrast to the greenness of shooting irises. The swamp is a good out-of-the-way place which every local resident knows.