大虫神社, Shinto shrine in Japan
大虫神社 is a Shinto shrine in Echizen with wooden structures and traditional design that preserve natural beauty in their simplicity. The grounds contain a sacred rock formation, wooden statues of deities from the Heian period, and a natural spring with clear water.
The shrine is considered very ancient and already appears in written records from 780. It was rebuilt multiple times after fires and conflicts, particularly during the reconstruction period under Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
The name originates from an ancient story where insects destroyed crops, but after prayers they left and harvests returned. This reflects the connection between the faithful and their hope for agricultural prosperity.
The shrine is easily reachable by car from the nearby station in just a few minutes, making it convenient for a day trip. Visitors can take water from the spring as a blessing, and the shrine office sells handwritten prayer papers as personal keepsakes.
A stone spring called 'Stone God Spring' on the grounds has such pure water that it once served as a drinking water source for the surrounding population. Today visitors quietly collect the water as a personal blessing from the site.
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