Kamonookaminomikokaminushitama-jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Kamonookaminomikokaminushitama-jinja is a Shinto shrine in Sakuragawa with striking red decorations and traditional design that reflects Asian influences. The grounds feature a large straw ring, a main building with carefully crafted woodwork, and calm, well-maintained areas surrounded by trees.
The shrine was established to honor the spirits of the land and has served as a place of worship for many generations. Over the centuries, it developed as an important gathering point for local rituals seeking blessings for harvests and community well-being.
The shrine is closely tied to local customs, particularly the annual summer purification ceremony where visitors walk through a large straw ring to ward off evil and cleanse themselves spiritually. This practice reflects beliefs passed down through generations about protection and renewal.
The shrine is accessible by local bus or car and offers a peaceful retreat from busier areas nearby. Visitors should bring a small offering and allow time for a quiet walk around the grounds, especially during the summer festival held in June.
The shrine hosts a remarkable tobacco pipe procession during a special autumn festival, where one of Japan's largest pipes filled with burning tobacco is carried up a nearby mountain by local parishioners. This unusual ceremony blends spiritual worship with blessing the region's important tobacco harvest.
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