須須神社, Shinto shrine in Japan
Susu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Suzu, featuring traditional wooden buildings and a simple design that blends with its natural surroundings. The grounds contain ritual spaces, a treasure hall holding cultural artifacts, stone lanterns, a water basin for purification, and a protected forest area with moss-covered stones and gravel paths.
According to the shrine's tradition, it was founded during the reign of Emperor Sujin (97–29 BCE) and moved to its present site between 749 and 756. It appears in the Engishiki register as a minor national shrine and was ranked a prefectural shrine in the modern system. The 2023 Noto earthquake toppled its 9-metre first torii, and the 2024 quake destroyed the second torii and cracked the third.
The shrine's name is written with the characters for Suzu, the city where it stands. It holds five wooden male deity statues designated National Important Cultural Properties, and in 2015 it was certified as part of the Japan Heritage site "Light-Bathed Peninsula Noto: The Passionate Kiriko Festivals." The shrine grove is a designated Natural Monument.
The shrine is accessible year-round at no cost for prayer and general visits. The treasure hall displaying cultural artifacts is open from spring through autumn and requires advance reservations to view the collection.
The shrine houses a legendary flute called Semioritsunofue, said to have been gifted by the warrior Minamoto Yoshitsune as thanks for being rescued during a sea storm. Every March, the shrine hosts the Matai Uchishinji festival where visitors attempt to shoot arrows at a target to ward off misfortune and pray for protection and safety.
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