Arai-jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Arai-jinja is a Shinto shrine in Takasago featuring simple traditional wooden buildings and a wooden torii gate at its entrance. The grounds include a quiet garden, neatly arranged stone paths, and several shrine structures with classic construction techniques including thatched roofs and carved wooden beams.
The shrine was originally founded around the year 629 during the reign of Emperor Sujin to honor the deity Ookuninushi. During the Kamakura period, many centuries later, it was relocated to its current location where it has remained since.
The shrine is dedicated to the gods Ebisu and Daikoku, known as bringers of prosperity and good fortune. Visitors can see people writing their wishes on wooden plaques and hanging them on racks as an active expression of their hopes.
The shrine is about 8 minutes walk from Takasago Station on the Sanyo Electric Railway and has a nearby parking lot for visitors. Entry is free to explore the grounds, and the site has clean restrooms and a shop selling charms and local crafts.
The shrine is known for a special pine tree called the 'binding pine,' whose split root has produced two trees - one male and one female - serving as a symbol of strong connections. A stone monument features a poem by the well-known writer Musagonogoro Jitsusatsu, showing the community's engagement with arts and poetry.
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