冰川神社, Shinto shrine in Japan
Hikawa Shrine in Setagaya-ku is a Shinto shrine featuring a main hall built in nagare-zukuri style, a common Japanese design that conveys simplicity and durability through its wooden structure. The grounds contain several smaller shrines, including one dedicated to Inari the deity of rice and prosperity, along with stone lanterns, wooden plaques, and a stone torii gate that marks the entrance to this peaceful, tree-lined space.
The shrine is believed to have been founded around the year 740, making it one of the oldest sites in the region. During the Edo period, a local leader named Edo Yoshikane rebuilt the shrine and contributed a stone torii gate, which still stands today as one of the oldest structures of its kind in the district.
The shrine is dedicated to Susanoo no Mikoto, a deity from Japanese mythology associated with rivers, storms, and courage. Visitors come here to pray and participate in traditional rituals that have been part of the local community for generations.
The shrine is easily accessible by public transport, with a short walk from Kitami station or bus connections from other parts of the city. The grounds are open at all times, and visitors should show respect by bowing when entering and avoiding loud noises or photography inside the main hall.
A stone torii gate donated during the Edo period by a local leader still stands and is one of the oldest structures of its kind in the district. Visitors can also observe locals throwing beans during the Setsubun festival in February, a practice that has taken place at this site for centuries to drive away evil spirits.
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