Moroha-jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Moroha-jinja is a small Shinto shrine in Yamashina, Kyoto, with simple wooden buildings set among old trees that create a peaceful setting. The main hall features a traditional sloped roof, guardian lion statues at the entrance, and grounds containing stone lanterns, a sacred well, and hand-washing basins for ritual purification.
The shrine was founded in 862 and originally named Ryoha Daimyojin to honor two deities. After suffering damage from wars and fires over centuries, it was renamed Moroha in the 16th century and rebuilt in 1768, with the current buildings dating from the late 1700s or early 1800s.
The shrine is linked to Prince Saneyasu, a blind royal who spent his later years here playing the biwa and teaching others music and poetry. This connection is kept alive through the stones and buildings on the grounds, reflecting how deeply the local community values the stories of those who came before.
The shrine sits about 10 minutes on foot from Yamashina Station, accessible via quiet streets lined with traditional shops. Visitors should bow slightly when passing the guardian lions and rinse their hands at the water basins before approaching the main hall as a sign of respect.
The shrine holds a special stone called the Biwa Stone, believed to come from Prince Saneyasu's retreat and where he once sat playing the biwa instrument. Many visitors overlook this stone, yet it serves as a direct link to the local legend that shaped the shrine.
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