In central Kurashiki is a large shrine called Achi Shrine.
Known as a tourist attraction, it is a popular place that draws many worshippers during New Year’s visits and events.
But sometimes you may want to stroll around the shrine grounds at a leisurely pace and enjoy the quiet, mystical atmosphere unique to a shrine.
In fact, there is a historic shrine rooted in the local community just over a ten-minute walk from JR Kurashiki Station.
It is “Kasuga Shrine.”
Built in the early Edo period, this old shrine is one of the “Three Great Shrines of Old Kurashiki,” along with Achi Shrine and Ashitaka Shrine.
Here we introduce Kasuga Shrine, which may not be large but is beloved by local residents.
The information presented here was current when this article was published in April 2020. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Kasuga Shrine is one of the “Three Great Shrines of Old Kurashiki”
Kasuga Shrine stands in Hamacho, Kurashiki City, about 900 meters northeast of JR Kurashiki Station.
Kurashiki Municipal Manju Elementary School is just to the east.
Kasuga Shrine is one of the “Three Great Shrines of Old Kurashiki.”
The Three Great Shrines of Old Kurashiki refers to three historic shrines in the former Kurashiki City, which existed before present-day Kurashiki City was established in 1967, at the time of its founding in 1927.
In 1927, the former Kurashiki City was established as the new Kurashiki Town through the equal merger of Kurashiki Town, Ohtaka Village, and Manju Village in Tsukubo District. The following year, in 1928, it became Kurashiki City.
The guardian shrines of the three former towns and villages—Achi Shrine in Kurashiki, Ashitaka Shrine in Ohtaka, and Kasuga Shrine in Manju—came to be known as the Three Great Shrines.
Kasuga Shrine was founded during the Genna era (1615–1624), in the early Edo period.
It is an old shrine with a history of more than 400 years.
Kasuga Shrine enshrines the following four deities.
| Ame-no-Koyane-no-Mikoto (Kasuga Daimyojin) | Deity of norito (Shinto prayers). An ancestral deity of the Nakatomi clan and the clan deity of the Fujiwara clan. |
|---|---|
| Hime-Okami | Wife of the principal deity: Ame-no-Mitsu-Tamateru-Hime-no-Mikoto, wife of Ame-no-Koyane-no-Mikoto. |
| Futsunushi-no-Mikoto | Deity of swords |
| Takemikazuchi-no-Mikoto | Deity of swords |
▼Kasuga Shrine’s annual festivals are as follows.
| Spring Festival | Third Saturday and Sunday in May |
|---|---|
| Summer Festival | First Saturday in August |
| Annual Grand Festival | Third Saturday and Sunday in October |
Highlights of Kasuga Shrine
Here are some highlights on the grounds of Kasuga Shrine.
Worship Hall and Main Hall
The building where people worship the deity at a shrine is the worship hall, while the building where the deity is enshrined is the main hall.
At many shrines, the worship hall is built directly in front of the main hall, and Kasuga Shrine has the same layout.
▼When you visit Kasuga Shrine, first worship the deity at the worship hall.
▼Unlike the worship hall, the main hall has an appearance that evokes the passage of time.
I could not confirm when the main hall was built, but it seemed to have a long history.
Shrine-front Motto
▼To the left of the offertory box in the worship hall is a sheet of paper labeled “Shrine-front Motto.”
▼Each month, the chief priest writes a message for parishioners and visitors.
The message changes every month, so be sure to read it.
You may take the sheet with the shrine-front motto home with you.
Guardian Dogs and Stone Lanterns
In front of the worship hall are guardian dogs and stone lanterns.
▼Guardian dogs
▼The inscription on the pedestal is old and difficult to read, but I could make out the word “Bunka.”
Bunka refers to 1804–1818.
In other words, these guardian dogs date from the late Edo period.
▼Stone lanterns
▼On the back of the stone lantern were the inscriptions “Horeki 13” and “September.”
September 1763, the 13th year of the Horeki era.
This stone lantern was built in the mid-Edo period.
Zelkova Tree
▼On the north side of the shrine office, diagonally in front and to the right of the worship hall, stands a large zelkova tree regarded as a sacred tree.
It appears to be quite old. The thickest part of its trunk is 1.3 meters above the ground.
▼Its circumference is an impressive 3.37 meters.
In March 1992, it was selected as one of the giant trees of Kurashiki City.
Sumo Ring
▼Diagonally in front and to the left of the worship hall, near the center of the grounds, a huge roofed structure catches the eye.
This is a sumo ring.
▼There was even a sandy area for the ring.
Kasuga Shrine is famous for its annual children’s dedication sumo tournament.
The tournament is held every year during the spring and autumn festivals, and has become a seasonal tradition in the community.
During the dedication sumo tournament, a sumo ring is set up on the sandy ground beneath the roof.
The current sumo ring was built in the latter half of the 1960s.
Auxiliary Shrines
Many auxiliary shrines stand within the grounds of Kasuga Shrine.
Auxiliary shrines are shrines enshrined within the grounds of another shrine.
▼Immediately to the right of the worship hall are the Ushi Shrine and Sarutahiko Shrine, enshrined side by side.
▼Diagonally behind and to the right of the main shrine is Inari Shrine.
▼Diagonally behind and to the left of the main shrine is a Jijin monument dedicated to Jijin, the deity of the land.
▼On the north side of the grounds is a shrine enshrining seven shrines together.
▼From left to right, the shrines enshrined there are as follows.
- Atago Shrine
- Warei Shrine
- Hachiman Shrine
- Ko Shrine
- Kibitsu Shrine
- Junisha Shrine
- Shichisha Shrine
The shrine building is quite new.
▼To the left of the shrine enshrining the seven shrines is Wakamiya Shrine.
▼On the west side of the grounds, Tenjin Shrine and Kuwaki Shrine stand side by side.
Automatic Omikuji Fortune Machine
Pass through the Zuishinmon Gate, and the shrine office is immediately to the right in the direction you are walking.
▼An automatic omikuji fortune machine is built into the wall to the right of the shrine office’s reception window.
A priest is not always on duty at Kasuga Shrine, but the automatic omikuji machine lets you draw a fortune at any time.
▼Insert 100 yen into the coin slot at the upper right, and an omikuji fortune slip comes out of the opening below.
Kasuga Shrine’s Goshuin
You can receive a goshuin at Kasuga Shrine.
If you would like a goshuin, pass through the Zuishinmon Gate and tell the priest at the shrine office immediately to your right, “I would like a goshuin.”
Please note that a priest is not always on duty at Kasuga Shrine.
You cannot receive a goshuin when the priest is absent.
If you really want to receive a goshuin, call to check a few days before your visit.
When receiving a goshuin at Kasuga Shrine, please offer a 300 yen first-fruit offering.
The Origins and History of Kasuga Shrine
Kasuga Shrine was founded during the Genna era (1615–1624), in the early Edo period.
It is said to have been established by inviting the deity from Kasuga Shrine in Nara City.
The area around Hamamachi, where Kasuga Shrine stands, was once sea, and Tsurugatayama was an island.
When Ukita Hideie came to rule eastern Bitchu Province from Okayama Castle during the Sengoku period, the Ukita clan ordered the sea to be reclaimed.
Around 1589, in the 17th year of the Tensho era, the Ukita clan had a seawall called the “Ukita Embankment” built to reclaim land, running from present-day Sakazu in Kurashiki City along the west side of Tsurugatayama to Funagura-cho, and from Hashima to the center of Hayashima Town.
This was when Hamamachi became dry land, connecting Tsurugatayama and Mukoyama to the mainland.
The population gradually grew, and Kasuga Shrine was built in the early Edo period.
From the Writer
The other two of the former Three Great Shrines of Kurashiki, Achi Shrine and Ashitaka Shrine, have ancient histories dating back to antiquity, so Kasuga Shrine may seem relatively young by comparison.
However, although it does not have a history dating back to ancient times, Kasuga Shrine is still an old shrine with a history of more than 400 years.
Kasuga Shrine is the local tutelary shrine and is cherished by residents, with events such as children’s dedication sumo matches held there.
Why not visit and pay your respects?
Kasuga Shrine Information
| Name | Kasuga Shrine |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-4-1 Hamamachi, Kurashiki City |
| Contact | 086-422-6158 |
| Parking | Available |
| Enshrined deities | Ame-no-Koyane-no-Mikoto, Hime-Okami, Futsunushi-no-Mikoto, Takemikazuchi-no-Mikoto |
| Blessings | Career success and good fortune, success in examinations, peace and security of the land, household safety, and prosperity in industry |
| Goshuin (offering) | Available (300 yen) *Unavailable when the chief priest is absent (please check in advance) |
| Visiting hours | Open for visits all day |
| Reception hours | Daytime only |
| Closed | None |
| Payment methods for admission and offerings |
|
| Website | Kasuga Shrine | Okayama Prefecture Shrine Search | Okayama Prefecture Shrine Association |
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