Suwa-jinja, shrine in Kashiwa, Kashiwa
Suwa-jinja is a small Shinto shrine in Kashiwa with simple wooden structures and quiet spaces where people come to pray. The grounds are carefully maintained and feature stone lanterns, small statues, and a dark wooden wall displaying many visitor-written wooden plaques called ema.
The shrine was founded over 1200 years ago and has been part of local life for many generations. In the year 811, the shrine invited spirits from the famous Suwa Taisha in Nagano to be part of local worship practices.
The shrine grounds are a place where visitors write their hopes and wishes on small wooden plaques called ema and hang them for display. This practice shows how people share their personal concerns and dreams with the sacred space, keeping local traditions alive in a direct and heartfelt way.
The shrine is easily accessible by foot, car, or train and is only a few minutes walk from Kashiwa Station. The surrounding area has a quiet pace with simple streets and local shops where you can spend time before or after your visit.
Many visitors, especially students, come to the shrine to write hopes for exams or career success on the wooden plaques. The ema plaques are often decorated with frogs, as these symbolize good fortune and safe travel in local tradition.
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