Tsuto-jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Tsuto-jinja is a small Shinto shrine in Nishinomiya featuring simple buildings, stone lanterns, and a large camphor tree protected as a special part of the grounds. The main structure faces east and houses three principal deities, with smaller shrines dedicated to other gods including Benzaiten, the goddess of music.
The shrine was founded over a thousand years ago and is connected to two Korean women who brought weaving skills to the region. It was relocated to its current location in the mid-1700s, and after Buddhism and Shinto separated in the late 1800s, Amaterasu became the principal deity.
The shrine's name reflects its deep connection to weaving traditions and the women who brought these skills from Korea centuries ago. Visitors can sense this heritage in the quiet spaces and simple structures that honor both the craft and the spiritual protection associated with it.
The shrine is about a five-minute walk from the main train station and easily reached through quiet streets. Visitors can freely walk the grounds at any time, and the peaceful setting is particularly beautiful in autumn when the trees display bright colors.
Within the shrine grounds stands a small pond called Myojoike, or Star Pond, where local legend tells of a boy wrongly accused being saved by miraculous rainfall. Villagers once prayed to the pond for rain during dry seasons and believed it held special powers.
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