Usuki-jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Usuki-jinja is a Shinto shrine in Usuki built atop a burial mound containing boat-shaped stone burial chambers. The grounds feature traditional wooden buildings with stone lanterns and a 700-year-old camphor tree believed to have healing properties.
The shrine was built centuries ago atop a burial mound at a time when Shinto sites were often placed at spiritually significant locations including burial grounds. Excavations beneath the shrine uncovered ancient artifacts and bones that reveal how the deceased were honored in this region.
The grounds draw locals during the Setsubun festival when roasted soybeans are thrown to ward off evil spirits and during community gatherings for important life ceremonies. This place remains a living center for local customs, where families mark significant occasions and keep traditions alive through regular worship.
Remove your shoes before entering certain buildings and move quietly to maintain the peaceful atmosphere for those praying. Parking is available at the nearby Miyono Community Hall, where restroom facilities are also located.
The name Usuki comes from two stones at the shrine's base shaped like mortar and pestle, items whose Japanese names are 'usu' and 'kine'. This unusual naming reveals how local landscape features shaped the history and identity of the community.
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