Mitate Shrine

 

Mitate Shrine is the main shrine of Saijo in the mountains of Higashihiroshima, and is located just north of the towns main railway station.

It moved to this location in 1910, along with the nearby Wakamiya, Hachiman, Ebisu, Kanazaki, and Daiichi shrines.

The Otateinari Shrine is on the approach to the main shrine.

The original Mitate Shrine is said to have been founded in 706 after the local people prayed to Gozu Tenno and successfully stopped a plague.

Gozu Tenno has been associated with Susano for a long time, but since the Meiji Period all instances of Gozu Tenno have been officially changed to Susano.

Along with Susano, the other main kami listed are Kotoshironushi, and Ichikishimahime.

The shrine has numerous pairs of komainu, in a variety of styles.

Most seem to date to the mid 19th century before the shrine moved to the current location.

One pair date to the early 20th century, after the move.

It seems that before the Meiji Period it was called Gion Shrine.

In the mid 20th century a branch of Matsuo Shrine was established in the grounds.

Matsuo Shrine is the patron shrine of sake brewing, and, like Fushimi Inari, was established by the Hata Clan.

Saijo is one of the major sake brewing towns in Japan, and often calls itself  the Sake Capital.

Though right in the centre of the town the shrine is within a large park and so has plenty of greenery

The previous post was on Yamatogen Shrine....

I have not seen anything like this before.... a tanuki dressed as a Shinto priest and a device for, I guess, whispering something into iys ears.....

Ichinotaki-ji Temple 40 Sasaguri Pilgrimage

 

Ichinotaki Temple in the mountains of Sasaguri is said to have more than 500 statues, including a set of rakan.

Temple number 40 on the Sasaguri Pilgrimage, it is fairly high up a narrow valley.

Several shrines and altars line the approach path including the Tamamitsu Inari Shrine, pictured above, and the Shokankiten Hall next door to it.

The temple was established, by local donations, in 1892.

The honzon is a Yakushi Nyorai.

There are actually two waterfalls, the larger considered male, and the smaller, female.

With the waterfall comes many Fudo Myoo's, and I previously posted photos of 18 of them...

There is quite a large Bato Kannon, sometimes called Horsehead Kannon

Theer are alo numerous, but not 500, expressive statues of rakan, first photo of the post and the next couple of photos...

There is supposed to be one clutching a bunch of banknotes but I couldnt find it...

The statue below was very unusual, at least in this area. It is a Ta no kami, a god of the rice paddy.

When viewed from the rear it is unambiguously a phallus.

En no Gyoga, often found at waterfalls as the legendary founder of Shugendo.

The Seven Luck Gods.... only one of which is Japanese....

Looking down on Ichinotaki Temple

The smaller "female" falls....

The previous post was on the Fudo Myoo statues of Ichinotaki....

Ako Oishi Shrine

 

Ako Oishi Shrine is located within the grounds of Ako Castle.

It is very much what I would consider a political shrine and was not built until 1912, though permission was granted in 1900 but right-wing nationalists were opposed to it.

It is known for the statues of the 47 Ronin lining the approach and was named Oishi Shrine after the leader of the group.

In the late 1940's a shrine enshrining the former daimyo of the castle was built nearby named Ako Shrine.

In 2000, the two shrines were merged together.

There are numerous secondary shrines in the grounds including an Inari, Awashima, Ebisu, Tenmangu, and a Hatta Shrine.

There are also statues of the 12 zodiac animals.

Notable are the komainu statues which are somewhat unusual.

I am not exactly sure of the story, but the shrine has some association with dogs, and visitors are allowed to bring dogs with them into the shrine.

I was wondering why therevwere such cute teddy bear ema votive tablets, before realizing that they are in fact dogs.

The shrine is built on the site of Oishi Kusunoke's residence, and the gatehouse still stands as well as a small garden.

There is a treasure house with swords and other artifacts connected to the 47 ronin.

The previous ost in the series was on nearby Fumonji Temple and its delightful Kannon statue.