Saturday, August 21, 2021

Kusanagi Shrine

I find many shrines and temples when I'm out walking. I had heard about this one, looked it up on the map, and went there purposely. This is what the entrance looks like from the street. I couldn't read the sign on the right but it might have something to do with a giant fireworks thing that is shot off during festivals. No festivals these days because of the pandemic, but the giant fireworks thing is waiting.





There is a statue to the left of the steps, but I don't know who the person is.  It was rainy and gloomy that day, so the light on the pole was on, like it was night.



This mysterious stone has writing on it. There is an old style water pump to the left.



It seems like every shrine has the big tree that you can't touch.  This tree was half fallen over and propped up, but it still has the white zig zags and is fenced off.




Before the pandemic, people used the water to purify themselves, but now it's more common to see a pump bottle of alcohol.




This is the entrance to the shrine main area.



Close ups of the entry guards.







This is the giant fireworks thing. Looks dangerous to me.



Look how long the pole it's on is. It's just waiting for the next festival.



These lion dogs have some kind of dragon scales on the back of their legs and a lot of green mossy stuff growing on them.



2021 is the year of the ox. Some people say the year of the cow.



A look inside the main building.





This is the inside view of the entry way.



With all these old wooden buildings this fireworks thing looks doubly dangerous.



This is another shrine in the middle of a neighborhood, but no convenience store this time.




It looks and feels like you are in the middle of the woods, but you are really in the middle of town.





I went out the way I came in.


7 comments:

Vireya said...

Apart from the giant fireworks thing, the shrine looks beautiful and peaceful. It might be a different matter when the rocket is set off!

Queeniepatch said...

The statue must be of Yamato Takeru. You can see him in the picture with the ox, too, as he is fighting the fire with his very important sword.
The Ryusei Fireworks (rocket) is held on 20th September
The tree is 1000 years old
You can read more here:https://nippon-kichi.jp/article_list.do;jsessionid=CDE7581EEA24CADBD3565B848AB800B5?p=1639&ml_lang=en

This is one of those mountain shrines that are a bit spooky, don't you think? Moss, dripping water, dogs with spiked legs, monstrous old trees...

Anonymous said...

The statue is “TAKERU YAMATO”.He is
considered as a member of the Inperial
family of the ancient Japan.
He is enshrined in KUSANAGI shrine.

The name of sword“TAKERU YAMATO”used was“KUSANAGI NO TSURUGI”.
There sacred treasures of the Inperial family handed down for generation to generation by the Enperor.

The real one is in “ATSUTA shrine.”
But you can't see it.(The Enperor can't see it.)

I am most surprised that you wolked to KUSANAGI shrine.

kiwikid said...

Another beautiful shrine, and it certainly looks like it is in the woods somewhere. That old tree is amazing. Interesting reading the comments. The fireworks thing looks scary.

jacaranda said...

Another lovely and peaceful shrine. That rocket is certainly going to go off with a bang.

Jeanie said...

I always love it when you share a new shrine with us! I love that it looks like it is in the woods.

Leonore Winterer said...

I love how practical the Japanese think - pandemic going on? Just add a little disinfecting to your prayer routine!
That fire work thing does look scary, though.