Kawai Shrine has been worshiped as a branch shrine of Shimogamo Shrine since ancient times, and is a shrine that attracts faith as the protector of women. The deity worshipped is Tamayorihime, the mother of Emperor Jimmu, who is deeply revered as the "goddess of beauty" because she is as beautiful as a jewel. Kawai Shrine offers hand-mirror-shaped votive plaques, called "Kagami Ema," as prayer votive plaques for beauty.
You will apply makeup using your regular cosmetics to a hand-mirror-shaped ema (with a pattern that represents a face). This face will represent your ideal appearance. By writing your wish on the back and entrusting it to the ema, it will become an ema that will polish not only your appearance but also your inner beauty.
Kawai Shrine is also closely related to Kamo no Chomei, one of the three great essayists of Japan, who spent his childhood as the son of the shrine's chief priest. Currently, a replica of the Hojo-an, where Chomei is said to have spent his later years, is on display in the Tadasu Forest to the north of Kawai Shrine.