Suika Tenmangu, Shinto shrine in Japan
Suika Tenmangu is a small Shinto shrine in Kyoto dedicated to protection from water and fire disasters. The grounds feature several sacred stones including the Tamagoishi for safe childbirth and the Kinryusui for eye health, along with two weeping cherry trees that bloom in soft pink during spring.
Founded in 923 by priest Son'i on orders from Emperor Daigo to serve as the city's guardian, this was Japan's first Tenmangu shrine. It remained at its original location in Kamigyo Ward for over a thousand years before being relocated in 1950 to its current site during a period of urban development.
The shrine is dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, a revered scholar and deity of learning whose influence shaped Japanese intellectual tradition. Locals and visitors alike engage with the site through prayer at its sacred stones, each believed to address specific needs like safe childbirth or healing from eye ailments.
The shrine is easily accessible on foot from Kuramaguchi subway station or by bus to the Tenjin Koen-mae stop on Horikawa Dori street. There are no parking spaces on the grounds, though paid parking is available nearby for visitors arriving by car.
It holds the distinction of being Japan's first Tenmangu shrine and stood at its original location for over a thousand years before its modern relocation. A special pine tree called Kanko Yogomatsu is tied to local legend about a deity's temporary descent onto its branches.
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