Inazume-jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Inazume-jinja is a small Shinto shrine in Akashi dedicated to the poet and traveler Kakinomoto no Hitomaro. The grounds feature simple architecture with a modest wooden building, stone markers, a stone monument inscribed with the poet's history, and quiet paths surrounded by trees.
The shrine was founded in 887 when Buddhist monk Kakusho established it to honor the spirit of renowned poet Kakinomoto no Hitomaro. It later relocated to make way for Akashi Castle, and in 1723 the Japanese government granted it official recognition by bestowing the high rank of Kakinomoto Dai-myōjin upon the deity enshrined there.
The shrine is woven into daily local life and is affectionately called Hitomaru-san by residents who feel a strong connection to it. Visitors observe people making coin offerings, lighting incense, and tying wish papers to trees, which reveals how the community sustains its spiritual traditions through simple, meaningful actions.
The shrine is easily accessible by local transportation and has a small parking area nearby. Visitors should walk slowly through the grounds to fully appreciate the quiet beauty and allow themselves time for reflection in this peaceful setting.
Visitors can connect with a poem written by Kakinomoto no Hitomaro about Akashi Strait that endures in local tradition to this day. This link between the historical poet and this place offers a tangible window into the early days of Japanese literary history.
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