Sarutahiko Shrine, Shinto shrine in Ise, Japan.
Sarutahiko Shrine is a Shinto site in Ise, where wooden gates, purification basins, and halls occupy a forested setting. The buildings use cypress timber and follow traditional construction methods, with simple rooflines rising above the trees.
The site honors Sarutahiko Okami, a deity appearing in Japan's oldest written records as the guide who led the heavenly grandson to earth. This account has shaped devotion here toward guidance and safe journeys ever since.
Priests here trace their family line back many generations to the deity they honor, maintaining this inherited role through centuries. This family connection shapes the way ceremonies unfold, with each ritual following patterns handed down within the same household.
Buses from Ise stations stop near the entrance, making the journey straightforward for most visitors. The grounds open each morning and close in the late afternoon, giving enough time to walk through the halls and exterior areas.
Three stones on the grounds carry specific names and draw visitors who make different wishes at each one. These stones are believed to gather certain energies, and people often visit them in a set order.
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