Enshuu Shigisan Betsuin (Hamamatsu)

Enshuu Shigisan Betsuin 遠州信貴山別院 Hamamatsu (浜松市) October 6, 2018 About Enshuu Shigisan Betsuin Shigisan is the oldest temple in Japan devoted to Bishamonten. Bishamonten is the heavenly king of the north and one of the seven lucky gods. He is a god of war and is often prayed to for victory. As a lucky god, he’s assiocated with bringing safety to the home and prosperity to businesses. This temple is one of its branch locations. So in addition to being a good mini sightseeing trip, it was an appropriate place to go before a martial arts competition. My Visit I…

Continue reading

Gujo Hachiman Castle

Gujo Hachiman Castle 郡上八幡城 Matsumoto (松本市) September 17, 2018 The gojoin for Gujo Hachiman Castle in Gujo, Gifu Prefecture. I had no idea castles could have goshuin unitl I got this one. Gujo Hachiman Castle is high up on Mt Hachiman above the city of Gujo and can be seen from the tollway there. It was originally built in 1559 but demolished by the Meiji government in the 1870s in accordance with the Haijo Edict, however the tenshu, or castle keep, was later rebuilt as a museum based on Ogaki Castle’s design in 1933. Gujo is also famous for their…

Continue reading

Anyo-ji (Gujo)

Anyo-ji 安養寺 Gujo（郡上） September 17, 2018 About Anyo-ji Anyo-ji is located near the base of Mt. Joyama under Gujo Hachiman Castle. It is the largest wooden structure in Gifu Prefecture. It also has a treasure room that you can enter. The nearby Joyama Park is one of the locations for Gujo Odori in the summer. My Visit to Anyo-ji The day we stopped by the temple was unfortunately under construction. A typhoon hit us recently and the roof was in need of repair. You can see other goshuin from Gifu Prefecture here. Links Temples and Shrines of Gujo Hachiman (EN)…

Continue reading

Onsen-ji

– Onsen-ji – 温泉寺 – Gero（下呂） – September 1, 2018   One of the top three onsen towns in Japan is Gero Onsen in Gifu Prefecture. It’s a lovely river-side city with many onsen to visit. If you venture little ways up the mountain away from the river, you can visit the onsen temple, Onsen-ji. One story form Gero Onsen’s history of over 1000 years is this. In 1265, the onsen’s hot water stopped. The following year, the villagers noticed a the flashing white wings of a white heron dancing on the riverbed of the Hida River every day. When…

Continue reading

Kogane Shrine

Goshuin for Kogane Shrine

– Kogane Shrine – 金神社 – Gifu – 岐阜 – August 31, 2018 Kogane Shrine is written with the kanji for gold/money, but even without knowing any kanji it’s pretty obvious what people come here for: Luck with money. Why? When you walk up to the shrine, you’re welcomed by a giant gold torii. It is a shrine near the middle of Gifu and is closely connected to two other shrines in the area: Inaba Shrine and Kashimori Shrine. The god enshrined here is Nunoshihime-no-mikoto, wife of Inishiki-Irihiko-no-mikoto who is enshrined at Inaba Shrine and the mother of Ichihaya-no-mikoto at…

Continue reading

Himuro Shrine

Himuro Shrine 氷室神社 Nara (奈良) August 9, 2018 About Himuro Shrine Himuro Shrine was originally founded as an ice house for Emperor Nintoku in 710. The gods enshrined here are Tsugenoinagi Oyamanushi no Mikoto, Emperor Nintoku, and Nukata no Onakatsuhiko no Mikoto. It still has a strong association with ice today and has ice blocks on the temple grounds. My Visit Honestly, my friend and I here on a whim. We were mostly done with our Nara trip and noticed this quiet shrine and decided to check it out. It was very quiet and calm compared to popular locations like…

Continue reading