Emperor Tenmu and the Jinshin War: The Origins of the Shikinen Sengu at Ise Jingu
Emperor Tenmu (?-686, 天武天皇), the 40th emperor of Japan, ascended the throne after winning the Jinshin War, the largest civil conflict in ancient Japanese history. He established the system of Shikinen Sengu, the ritual rebuilding of Ise Jingu (Ise Grand Shrine), a tradition that has endured for over 1,300 years. After his death, his consort, […]
Ise Jingu Shrine, Geku First and Then Naiku
Ise Jingu (Ise Grand Shrine), officially called Jingu, consists of 125 Shinto shrines. Crossing the Uji Bridge over the Isuzu River at the entrance of a main shrine, Kotaijingu (Naiku), you are in a sacred world where the deities dwell. As you walk the pea gravel approach along the giant cedar trees, you may feel […]
Takeda Shrine: Takeda Singen's Life & Battles
Dedicated to the strongest warlord, Shingen A 10-minute walk from Kofu Station in Yamanashi prefecture, Takeda Shrine stands at the foot of Yogai Mountain. Established in 1919 to enshrine Takeda Shingen (1521-1573, 武田信玄), the shrine is located on the site of the former Tsutsujigasaki-yakata, the residence of the Takeda clan. During the Warring States period […]
Kamikura Shrine: The Firefall of Mt.Kamikura Slope, a Down Dragon
Annually, on the 6th day of January, the New Year of the lunar calendar (February 6th), for over 1,800 years, the Oto-Matsuri takes place at night as a sacred festival of Kamikura Shrine. During this festival, around 2,000 men clad in white attire rush down the 538 steps from the summit to the base of […]
Dazaifu Tenmangu, Enshrines Sugawara Michizane as The God of Learning
Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine enshrines Sugawara Michizane (845-903, 菅原道真), a renowned scholar who supported the 59th Emperor Uda (867-931, 宇多天皇) as a ‘Monjo-hakase’ (a scholar of the highest rank), offering his extensive knowledge and insight during the emperor’s reign. The shrine is the head of the 12,000 Tenmangu shrines across Japan. Sugawara Michizane is revered as […]
Hakozakigu Shrine, Brings Victory and Good Luck
Hakozakigu Shrine in Fukuoka prefecture, Brings Victory and Good Luck
Kashima Jingu Shrine Enshrines the Diety of War, Takemikazuchi
Kashima Jingu Shrine in Ibaraki prefecture Enshrines the Diety of War, Takemikazuchi
Nikko Toshogu Shrine – Tokugawa Ieyasu’s Vision of Peace Beyond Death
Explore Nikko Toshogu Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and discover how Tokugawa Ieyasu designed a 260-year era of peace and sought to protect Edo and Japan even after death
Kasugataisha: A 1,300-Year-Old Sacred Shrine in Nara
Kasgataisha Shrine in Nara has a 1300-year-old history. Feeling the spituality from the sacred deer, mountains, and forests, the all are the divinity of Kasuga's God.
The Oki Islands, The Exile of Emperor Go-Toba by Samurai: A Political Drama in Medieval Japan
A 50-minute flight from Itami Airport in Osaka, the Oki isolated Islands in Shimane Prefecture, a UNESCO World Geopark, are blessed with abundant nature. Since ancient times, the islands have been called the "Islands of the Deities." Japan's oldest books, Kojiki and Nihonshoki, describe the creation of the Oki Islands by two deities, Izanagi and […]