Takahashi Jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Takahashi Jinja is a Shinto shrine in Nara located at the base of Mount Miwa, which is itself revered as a deity. The sanctuary consists of simple wooden structures with curved roofs, surrounded by trees and accessible via a stone path leading to a large red torii gate.
The shrine dates back to the Heian period and held significant historical importance as a senior shrine. According to legend, a brewer named Takahashi Ikuhi no Mikoto ended a great illness by brewing sake in a single night, an act that established the shrine's sacred connection to sake production.
The shrine is closely tied to sake production, which visitors can observe through the large cedar spheres hung at the main halls. These spheres, called sugidama, signal the freshness of newly brewed sake and connect this place to breweries across Japan.
The shrine is located in southern Nara and remains open year-round, with most visitors arriving on weekends or during special festivals, particularly in November. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended for the stone paths, and it is customary to bow slightly before entering the grounds.
One of Japan's oldest shrines of its kind, Takahashi Jinja draws sake brewers from across the country each year to participate in the Jozo Anzen Kigan-sai festival. During this event, large cedar spheres measuring roughly 5 feet across are replaced to symbolize the new harvest and fresh sake.
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