Ogasa Jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Ogasa Jinja is a small Shinto shrine in Kakegawa with simple wooden buildings and a quiet setting. The main hall features a traditional roof and wooden beams, with an open space in front where visitors wash their hands and offer prayers.
The shrine was founded around the year 701 and has been part of local life for many centuries. After World War II, it was affected by the Shinto Directive, but it continues to function as a place of worship and community gathering.
The shrine is dedicated to Kumano Gongen, a deity central to local spiritual traditions. Visitors can observe people bowing, making small offerings, and ringing a bell as part of their respectful visit.
The shrine is open year-round with no entrance fee and free access throughout the grounds. A hand-washing area is available near the entrance, and visiting in early morning hours or outside festival times offers a quieter experience.
The shrine is connected to the wider Kumano network of sacred sites visited for centuries as part of spiritual pilgrimages. This link places it within a larger spiritual landscape that extends beyond the local community.
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