Hikino-jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Hikino-jinja is a small Shinto shrine in Tamana featuring simple wooden buildings set among old trees. The grounds contain multiple torii gates, stone lanterns, and a main hall built in the early 1600s, creating a quiet, well-maintained space.
The shrine was founded during the Heian period to honor local spirits and later received official imperial recognition, reflecting its importance to the community. Post-World War II government policies changed its status, yet it remains a place deeply connected to local history.
Hikino-jinja is a place where local people express hopes by hanging wooden plaques with wishes and leaving offerings throughout the year. These everyday actions show how shrine traditions remain woven into the daily rhythm of life in Tamana.
The shrine sits on a hilltop with good views of the surroundings and is easily accessible while walking through town. The place is especially pleasant during seasons when cherry blossoms appear in spring or red leaves color the grounds in autumn.
According to legend, a poor charcoal maker named Koshiro became wealthy through the shrine's blessings, a story celebrated every April 1st during the Longer Festival. Nearby sits a special spring called Chouja no Izumi, believed locally to bring luck in business and personal life.
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