粟嶋神社, Shinto shrine in Japan
Awaishima Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kainan where visitors come primarily to pray for health and healing. The grounds feature simple structures, a clean courtyard, small lanterns, banners, and wooden prayer plaques where visitors write their wishes and leave offerings.
The shrine was established during the reign of Emperor Keiko and is maintained by a community of about 21 families who take turns caring for it. Its connections to ancient texts like the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki demonstrate deep roots in Japan's spiritual tradition.
The shrine honors Sukunahikona no Mikoto, a deity associated with healing and medicine whose stories appear in ancient texts like the Kojiki. Visitors leave small wooden prayer plaques and offerings as they ask for health and recovery from illness.
The shrine is easily accessible by local transport or on foot from nearby train stations and sits in a quiet residential neighborhood. Morning visits or weekday afternoons tend to offer a more peaceful experience than busier times.
An old stone monument on the shrine grounds preserves a poem from the Manyoshu collection that documents the area's early days and offers visitors insight into the region's literary history. A protected stone bridge over a small pond is called the Taiko Bridge by locals because its shape resembles a drum.
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