Tsutsumi-jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Tsutsumi-jinja is a Shinto shrine in Kita-ku where visitors venerate various kami or spirits, including Izanagi, Izanami, and Amaterasu, who are associated with Japan's creation and the protection of the land. The grounds feature a simple main building with a wooden gate at the entrance, prayer halls, and a small adjacent Seki Jinja that holds its own special history and significance.
The shrine is linked to Minamoto Yoriie, a medieval military leader who held a memorial service here for fallen soldiers and donated a suit of armor to it. Over the centuries, various samurai clans and the Tokugawa shogunate supported the shrine, most notably Iemitsu, who ordered the construction of a new main hall and granted the site land.
The shrine remains deeply connected to the local community and various craftspeople and artists who have supported it over time, as reflected in the history of the nearby Seki Jinja. Visitors observe traditional practices here, including purification rituals at water basins before approaching the prayer halls.
The shrine is accessible on foot about three minutes from Oji Station and can be easily reached by several train lines. Visiting in early morning or late afternoon is quietest, allowing you to explore the grounds peacefully and observe traditional practices without crowds.
The adjacent Seki Jinja was rebuilt after a 1969 fire largely through donations from local wig makers, dancers, and actors, showing how the shrine remains connected to local crafts and arts. This bond between shrine and local trades is rare and highlights the deep role the place holds in community life.
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