Tsushima-jinja, shrine in Taaaramoto, Nara
Tsushima-jinja is a small Shinto shrine located in the town of Tawaramoto in Nara Prefecture, drawing people who come to pray for good fortune and health. The grounds feature a main hall with an altar and a separate prayer area, surrounded by well-kept paths shaded by trees and lined with stone lanterns.
The site has roots reaching back to at least 1125, as shown by archaeological findings, while the current structure was built in the Meiji era. It was originally called Gion Shrine before the separation of Shinto and Buddhism in Japan led to a name change.
The shrine is dedicated to Susanoo and Gozu Tenno, two important deities in Japanese folklore and religion. Visitors often observe locals arriving in early mornings or evenings to offer quick prayers or seek blessings for health and happiness.
The shrine sits on the south side of the old town in Tawaramoto and can be reached on foot in about five minutes from Tawaramoto Station. The location offers easy access and a quiet setting for personal reflection or observing traditional rituals.
An excavated ditch from the medieval period on the southwest side of the shrine suggests the site was once a fortified or specially protected sacred place. This reveals that this location held greater significance in Japanese history than its quiet present-day appearance might suggest.
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