Nagakusa-Tenjin-sha, Shinto shrine in Japan
Nagakusa-Tenjin-sha is a small shrine in Obu built in the Ishi-no-ma-zukuri style, using stacked stones and wood for its structures. The shrine is dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, a famous scholar, and features simple wooden buildings with tiled roofs, stone lanterns, and statues symbolizing wisdom and learning.
The shrine was founded in the late 1400s when a landowner named Fujita Tamibu wanted to create a sacred space for his family. Sugawara no Michizane was enshrined from the beginning, and the shrine grew in importance over the centuries to become a central place for the local community.
The shrine is closely tied to the Doburoku Festival, where the community brews rice wine and celebrates together. Visitors can see how local people gather regularly to pray, share food, and keep traditions alive through generations.
The shrine is easy to reach by train or bus and sits close to Kyōwa Station on the Tōkaido Main Line. The grounds are compact and easy to walk around, with short paths and simple layout for visitors of all abilities. The best time to visit is the Doburoku Festival in late February, when the community gathers for celebrations and the area comes alive.
According to local legend, a farmer once found a small statue of the deity in his field and later built a shrine around it, which became part of the main sanctuary. During the festival each year, a mythological creature called Shōjō is carried through the grounds, believed to bring luck and happiness to the community.
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