Kamikasuya-jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Kamikasuya-jinja is a Shinto shrine in Isehara built with simple traditional wooden structures and modest features including stone lanterns and a small offering box. The grounds consist of an open courtyard surrounded by a few buildings, with mature trees and well-maintained surfaces that create a quiet, serene setting.
The shrine is said to have been founded around 660 BCE and appears in ancient texts from the 10th century, documenting its long history of worship. Key milestones include receiving the honorific title 'Kandaimyojin' from Emperor Junnin in 832 and a visit from samurai leader Minamoto no Yoritomo in 1192, who donated a sacred horse.
Kamikasuya-jinja serves as a place of everyday worship where locals stop by to pay brief respects or ring the bell during their daily routines. Visitors leave small offerings, light incense, or place wooden plaques with wishes, demonstrating how the shrine remains woven into the community's spiritual practices and seasonal celebrations.
The shrine is located in a quiet residential neighborhood in Isehara and is easily accessible by bus and on foot from the nearby train station. There are no major tourist facilities or prominent signage, so it is best to visit during daylight hours when the area is active and you can observe local activity.
The shrine long honored the deity Sakatoki no Kami, revered by sake brewers and alcohol makers, reflecting its connection to local craft traditions. This specialized veneration remains less known today but points to the artisanal and economic activities that shaped the region's history.
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