Awawa Jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan

Awawa Jinja is a Shinto shrine near the summit of Mount Awagatake in Hatsuma, Kakegawa. It enshrines Awahime no Mikoto and was founded in 736. Within its grounds stands the Yaegaki Shrine, dedicated to Susanoo no Mikoto and Kushinadahime. The shrine is surrounded by a laurel forest designated a natural monument by Kakegawa City, and large rocks in the forest were once worshipped as iwakura.

Awawa Jinja was founded in 736 on the slopes of Mount Awagatake, enshrining Awahime no Mikoto. It was listed among the Engishiki shrines and received protection from the lords of Kakegawa Castle. The shrine buildings burned down in the Sengoku period and upkeep stalled until the Meiji era, when it was ranked as a gōsha and its main hall and worship hall were rebuilt in 1884. In 1987 the main hall was moved to the summit.

The shrine's name is written with the characters for millet (粟), and it sits near the summit of Mount Awagatake. In the grounds stands the well into which, by tradition, a priest sank the bell of Mugen-ji in the Meiō era; later visitors threw broken sakaki branches into it upside down to gain the same merit as ringing the bell.

The shrine stands near the summit of Mount Awagatake in Hatsuma, Kakegawa, reached on foot by mountain trails; allow time for the climb. The grounds are covered by laurel forest protected as a Kakegawa City natural monument, with large boulders once venerated as iwakura. The main hall was moved to the summit in 1987, so check the route before setting out.

In the shrine grounds stands a well linked to the "Mugen no Kane" bell of the Enshū Seven Wonders, once kept at the neighbouring Mugen-san Kannon-ji. It was said that ringing the bell brought great wealth in this life but descent into the Mugen Hell after death; around 1492 a worried priest sank it into this well. Later visitors threw a broken sakaki branch in upside down to gain the same merit.