Irugi-jinsha, Shinto shrine in Japan
Irugi-jinsha is a small Shinto shrine in Shinagawa-ku located in a quiet residential area near Osaki Station. The grounds have a simple layout with a wooden torii gate, stone statues and lanterns, plus a miniature Mount Fuji hill built in 1933.
Originally known as Kigishi-no-Miya and located in Irugi-bashi village in Musashi Province, the shrine was relocated to higher ground in the early Edo Period to avoid flooding from the nearby Meguro River. The name Irugi-jinsha was adopted in 1872, and after merging with smaller shrines and being destroyed in World War II, it was rebuilt by 1978.
Irugi-jinsha honors several deities and serves as a gathering place for local community festivals throughout the year. The shrine grounds display traditional architectural features like stone statues and lanterns that help visitors connect with Japanese customs and beliefs.
The shrine is only a few minutes walk from the west exit of Osaki Station, served by multiple train lines, making it easy to reach from various parts of Tokyo. Visitors are asked to be respectful and quiet, especially during festivals, and spring cherry blossom season or autumn festival events offer the best visiting times.
An unusual feature of the shrine is a stone carving called Seicho-no-akashi meaning Proof of Growth, displayed in front of the main hall and flanked by images of Doraemon and Pokemon, used during Shichi-go-san ceremonies. Beneath the shrine grounds lies the Irugihashi Shell Mound, an archaeological site from the Jomon period containing shells, animal bones, and tools from people who lived by the sea thousands of years ago.
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