Itsukushima-jinja, shrine in Mashike, Hokkaido
Itsukushima-jinja is a Shinto shrine in Mashike dedicated to three female deities and carries a history spanning over 1400 years. The shrine buildings display traditional wooden architecture with features including a prayer hall roof converted from ceramic tiles to copper sheets in 2015, and two stone pillars inscribed by a renowned calligrapher in the 1880s marking the boundary of the sacred space.
The shrine was founded over 1400 years ago and served as a vital place where sailors and travelers sought protection for their journeys, particularly among local lords during the Edo period. The current buildings were reconstructed in 1602 after destruction during medieval conflicts, reflecting the enduring continuity of worship across centuries.
The shrine honors three female kami, spirits connected to safe travel and the sea, whose worship has roots stretching back over 1400 years in Japanese tradition. Visitors can observe longstanding devotional practices such as ringing the bell, bowing twice deeply and clapping to show respect to these deities.
The shrine is roughly a seven-minute walk from Mitsu Station and also accessible by a short boat ride from cruise ship docks. The sacred grounds are easy to navigate and the traditional prayer protocol is straightforward, making the location welcoming for families, couples, and solo travelers alike.
Visitors can collect monthly rotating goshuin, red stamps marking their visits, and purchase omamori talismans said to carry blessings for travel safety, health, and exam success. These practices connect modern pilgrims with centuries of traditions actively lived at this location.
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