雷神社, Shinto shrine in Japan
Raijinja is a Shinto shrine in Yokosuka, Japan, dedicated to the thunder deity Raijin and set on a wooded hill. A stone gate marks the entrance, and the path to the main hall passes several ancient trees, including a three-trunked ginkgo.
The shrine is said to have been founded in 931 on a small island called Tsukishima, where it stood for several centuries. A feudal lord had it relocated and rebuilt at its current hilltop site in 1581.
The shrine takes its name from Raijin, the thunder deity of Japanese folk belief, and visitors can still watch traditional prayer rituals performed on the grounds today. During harvest season, people from the surrounding area come to give thanks.
The shrine is a short walk from Keikyu Ohiama station along a main road, making it easy to reach on foot. The path up to the main hall is steep, so visitors with mobility needs should plan accordingly, even though a ramp is available at the entrance.
According to local legend, in 1559 a nearby tree was struck by lightning during a storm, shielding twelve girls who were sheltering inside the shrine. The tree still shows burn marks from that strike and is considered a symbol of the site's protective role.
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