飯盛神社, Shinto shrine in Japan
Iimori Shrine is a Shinto shrine on Mount Iimori in Nishi Ward, Fukuoka. A stone torii with a double lintel and a central plaque stands at the top of a paved path, beside a tall signboard showing a green map of the mountain. The shrine has a lower sanctuary (Shimomiya), a middle sanctuary (Nakamiya) and an upper sanctuary (Kamimiya) on the summit.
The shrine was founded around 859 and has been venerated by local people since ancient times. The main hall was rebuilt in 1786, while ceramic tablets from the 11th century and stone monuments from medieval periods demonstrate the site's long history.
The shrine's name, Iimori, refers to the mountain where the upper shrine was built in 859. Its festivals include the kayu-ura kai-gami-sai on February 14, a divination ritual using rice porridge and shellfish designated an intangible folk cultural property by Fukuoka Prefecture, and the yabusame horseback archery on October 9, also prefecturally designated.
The shrine sits on the slope of Mount Iimori, reached by a paved path that climbs to the stone torii gate; a tall signboard beside the gate shows a green trail map of the mountain. The lower shrine (Shimomiya) stands on this site, while the upper shrine (Kamimiya) was built on the summit. The grounds are entered freely, and the paved route continues up through the wooded slope.
Ceramic tablets with inscribed text were discovered on the grounds, indicating the site once hosted both Shinto and Buddhist worship practices. This blending of two religious traditions is rarely seen today and offers insight into Japan's complex religious history.
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