Suwa-myojin, Shinto shrine in Japan
Suwa-myojin is a small Shinto shrine located in Midori-ku, Sagamihara, Japan. It features simple wooden structures, stone lanterns, a torii gate, and well-maintained pathways lined with trees, with a central prayer hall and inscribed stones nearby.
According to tradition, the monk Kakushin founded Suwa-myojin during the Eishō era (1504–1521). It was rebuilt in 1710 and became the tutelary shrine of the former Ōshima and Kuzawa villages. Some scholars identify it with Ishitachio Shrine, one of 13 Sagami province shrines listed in the 919 Engishiki register.
Suwa-myojin is visited by locals who come to pay respects to the deities and seek blessings for health and protection. The shrine serves as a gathering place during festivals and seasonal occasions, where community members leave small offerings and participate in traditional rituals that connect them to their roots.
The shrine is reached by bus from the south exits of JR Hashimoto or JR Sagamihara stations to the Ue-Oshima stop, then on foot. The annual festival and lion dance are held on the last Sunday of August, originally on 26 August.
The shrine is one of several candidates (ronsha) proposed as the shrine listed in the 919 Engishiki register of Sagami Province's 13 shrines under the name Ishitachio-jinja, though this identification is not confirmed. The grounds also hold a Kaiko-sha behind the main hall, a small shrine to the silkworm deity.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,436 contributors worldwide.