“Kasama Inari Jinja Shrine” is located in Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture, and is known as one of Japan’s three major Inari and is also famous as a sacred place. The shrine is crowded with about 800,000 people during Hatsumode (the practice of visiting a shrine or a temple during the New Year). The ritual deity is “Ukamitamanokami”, which is said to be beneficial to the rich harvest, prosperous business and money luck. The worship hall and the main hall of important cultural properties in front of the precincts have a profound feeling and are proud of the style called “Shoichii” (Senior First Rank). Many tourists are seeking sacred places and “Goshuin” (a stamp that is given at a shrine or a temple).
At Kasama Inari Shrine, take a walk around the precincts once you have finished your visit at the worship hall. Behind the worship hall is the “main hall”, an important cultural property. On the right side of the worship hall is one of the Seven Deities of Good Luck, Daikokuten. Two wisteria-trellis wisteria near Romon Gate are 400 years old and are designated as a natural monument of the prefecture. A beautiful flower blooms every May. The highlight is the main shrine built in the late Edo period, so be sure to check out the sculptures that are located at the top. There is also a fox sculpture, so look for it.
Speaking of Inari Shrine, it ’s a “fox”. Many foxes can be seen in the precincts of Kasama Inari Shrine. Let’s see and compare one by one. You can enjoy a variety of facial expressions, such as a fox with a scary face just like saying “I will not bring evil and monsters close” and a fox that seems to smile. Also, foxes have a distinctive mouth, but some of them have round-faced foxes. It ’s a little-known way to enjoy Kasama Inari Shrine.
Kasama Inari Shrine is famous for sacred places. There are many sacred places in the precincts. First is “Kitsune-zuka” (fox mounds) behind the main shrine. There are a lot of stone statues. It seems that people who wanted to fulfill their wishes were devoted by placing a statue of a fox said to carry their wishes. It is said that fortune is gathered here. In addition, “Shiroyamainari Shrine” in the precincts near Kitsune-zuka is also a sacred places. Keep your hands together with the worship hall.
Scenic sculptures can be seen in the main gate and the main hall, and you can feel the history and formality. Why do not you go to Kasama Inari Shrine, which has many attractions not only for the first time but also for sightseeing?
Every year from the end of April to the beginning of May, Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture, hosts the “Kasama Atsuji Festival” with about 8,500 shares of azaleas. There will also be the “Kasama Fire Festival”, a festival of pottery with more than 200 potters. Each event attracts many people. However, especially in this season, it is recommended to visit Kasama Inari Jinja Shrine, where wisteria over four hundred years old is beautiful. One is the double-layered wisteria of a natural monument designated by the prefecture, and flowers bloom like bunches of grapes. A must see is the beautiful decoration on the back of the main hall of the “gongen-zukuri” style (a style of shrine buildings in Japan) of the country designated important cultural property.
Kasama Inari Jinja Shrine was founded in 651, the time of Emperor Kotoku, and is one of the three greatest Inari in Japan. There are many historical buildings such as the east gate and Emaden (hall for votive horse tablets) in addition to the main hall of the country designated important cultural property, and there is also an art museum that imitates Shosoin (Tresure Hall) in Nara.
The wisteria of the precinct is sinistorse vines, and the flower is dark purple, and the ear of the flower is about 30 cm in length.
Among the historical buildings in the precinct, the east gate is the building of imimoya-zukuri (a hip-and-gable roof construction), which was rebuilt in 1816, and Kezuna (a rope made from hair) dedicated to the left and right.
Also, in front of the east gate, there is “Sazare Stone”, which is also captured by the Japanese national anthem “Kimigayo”. “Sazare Stone” is one of gemstones and is said to be healed only by the view, but “Sazare Stone” of Kasama Inari Jinja Shrine is also fascinated by its unique beauty.
Kasama Inari Jinja Shrine’s precinct also features the cute Nakamise (shopping street in the precincts of a shrine), which offers souvenirs and meals of the Ibaraki prefecture.
There is also a shop dedicated to omiki (sacred wine or sake) in Kasama Inari right in front of Nakamise. The “Prayer Liquor”, which received the prayer of Kasama Inari Jinja Shrine, is a good drink of business prosperity and good luck prayer. Please stop by when you visit it.
Widely gathering faith from the whole country
The establishment of the Kasama Inari Jinja Shrine is said to be 651 years, and it is counted as one of Japan’s three major Inari, along with Fushimi in Kyoto and Yutoku in Saga. There is the history of over 1,350 years, and as God of ordinary people it is widely gathering faith from the whole country. In addition, visitors come from all over Japan, and the number is 3.5 million per year. And on the first three days of the New Year, more than 800,000 worshipers visited and boasted the No. 1 place in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Designated as an important cultural property
The main hall of the Kasama Inari Jinja Shrine was rebuilt in the late Edo period, and it is gongen-zukuri style (a style of shrine buildings in Japan) with roofs being finished with copper tiles (made of copper-laminated wooden molds). It was designated as an important cultural property of the country in 1988. At the main shrine there was elaborate sculptures such as the “Santo Happounirami no zu” (the three heads dragon staring at the viewer from wherever it is seen in everywhere.) and “Ranteikyokusui-zu” by the hands of the master , Its appearance is really beautiful.
There are two wisteria of 400 years old
There are also many historical buildings such as East Gate and Emaden (hall for votive horse tablets) in addition to the main hall of the national designated important cultural property, and there is also an art museum imitating Shosoin (the Treasure House) of Nara in the precincts.
Also in the precincts there are two wisteria of 400 years old, one of them, Yae-Fuji next to the shrine is designated as a prefectural natural treasure.
Bloom magnificent flowers and give a gentle aroma
Another wisteria on the side of the tower is a big wisteria which length is about 150 cm. This is also designated as a natural treasure in Ibaraki prefecture, and around these early May, these two wisteria bloom magnificent flowers and give a gentle aroma.
Crowded with visitors for the flowers of the deep purple
The size of the wistaria-trellis boast the largest size in Ibaraki prefecture. The precincts are full of sweet and sour aroma and are crowded with visitors for the flowers of the deep purple blooming big clusters.
Information(Access, Price/Charge, Tel, Address, Official site, etc.)
Name: | Kasama Inari Jinja Shrine |
Address: | Kasama 1 Kasama, Ibaraki 309-1611 Japan |
Access: | JR Mito-sen Line “Kasama-eki Station” (10 minutes by car) |
Tel: | (+81) 296-73-0001 |
Price: | Free |
Official site: | http://www.kasama.or.jp/ |
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