Ikukunitama Shrine, located in Tennoji Ward, Osaka City, is the oldest shrine in Osaka, boasting a long history of approximately 2,700 years, and continues to be beloved by many visitors. Known affectionately as “Ikutamasan” by the locals and by its other name, Namba Taisha, the shrine is a venerable sanctuary that dates back to the reign of Emperor Jinmu. The shrine has a wealth...
Imamiya Ebisu Shrine quietly stands amidst the bustle of Osaka’s Minami district. For more than 1,400 years, the people of Osaka have been familiar with this historic shrine as “Ebessan,” the god of business and prosperity. Every January, Tokaebisu attracts about one million visitors, and the lively scene of people seeking fukuzasa (lucky bamboo branches) is known throughout the country as Osaka’s New Year’s...
Nestled in a valley of buildings in Umeda, Osaka, Open Air Shrine is a sacred place for the fulfillment of love, known as the setting of Chikamatsu Monzaemon’s masterpiece “Sonezakishinju”. The shrine grounds, surrounded by tranquility amidst the bustling city, continue to be loved by many worshippers even today. Outline and basic information about Open-Air Shrine (Ohatsu Tenjin) The open-air shrine is a historic...
Located in Doshomachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Shohikona Shrine, nicknamed “Kanno-san,” is the general guardian of Japanese medicine. Located in a town of medicines since the Edo period, the shrine is believed by many people to be beneficial for healing illnesses and achieving good health. The shrine stands quietly in a modern townscape lined with buildings of pharmaceutical companies, creating a scene typical of Osaka...
Kitami Shrine, located in the center of Kitami City, Hokkaido, is a shrine with a long history, having been developed along with the settlement of the Tondenhei soldiers in the Meiji era. The shrine enshrines Amaterasu and three other deities and has become a spiritual center for Kitami citizens. The shrine grounds, decorated with azaleas in spring and autumn leaves in fall, are beautiful...
Morioka Hachimangu Shrine, located in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, is the largest shrine in Iwate Prefecture with a history of over 300 years. The shrine, built by the feudal lord of the Nanbu domain, continues to be deeply loved by the local people for its wide range of benefits related to human life, including agriculture, industry, commerce, and academics. Outline and basic information about...
Morioka Tenmangu Shrine, quietly perched on a small hill in Morioka City, is a historic shrine dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, a well-known god of learning. It is known as the place where Ishikawa Takuboku enjoyed walking and reading in his youth, and the lovable and unique guardian dogs on the shrine grounds are the talk of the town. Why not spend a peaceful moment...
Tannaiyama Shrine, located in Towa-cho, Hanamaki-shi, Iwate Prefecture, is a shrine with a rich history, founded in the Heian period by Nikko, a disciple of Kobo Daishi (Kukai). Mysterious legends of the Seven Wonders remain within the shrine grounds, and a giant stone of the Arahabaki Great God, a deity believed in since ancient times, is located behind the main shrine. The beautiful carvings...
Hokkaido Jingu Tongu, located in the city of Sapporo, is a historic shrine built in 1878. It is nicknamed “Tongu-san” (meaning “the shrine of Tongu” in Japanese) and is visited by many worshippers as a power spot for praying for the fulfillment of love and for the birth of a child. The shrine also plays an important role as an excursion spot for the...
Urahoro Shrine, located in the middle of Higashiyama (Higashi Mountain) in Urahoro Town, Tokachi-gun, Hokkaido, is a shrine with a long history that has been developed along with the pioneer settlers in the Meiji era. The shrine welcomes many worshippers with its history of being built as a spiritual support for pioneers and its distinctive shrine grounds, which are nationally known for the Nyushin...
