Onikoshi sōzen-jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Onikoshi sōzen-jinja is a Shinto shrine in Takizawa featuring traditional wooden buildings with tiled roofs set on clean, well-maintained grounds surrounded by peaceful woods and open spaces. Visitors approach the shrine on foot or by car to leave offerings and prayers at the altar, where wooden prayer plaques called ema are displayed for visitors to touch.
The shrine was established long ago when a village horse became restless and ran to Takizawa, prompting villagers to bury it with care and build a shrine in its honor as a mark of respect. This founding story established the shrine's lasting connection to horses and their role in the community's past.
The shrine honors horses through its connection to the Chagu Chagu Umakko Festival held each June, where about 100 decorated horses parade with jingling bells as a celebration of these animals and their historical importance to local life. Visitors witness how the community gathers to show gratitude and respect for horses that once played essential roles in farming and daily work.
The shrine is about 15 minutes by taxi from nearby Iwate Ginga Railway Line stations and under 10 minutes by car from Takizawa-chuo Smart Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway. Visitors can explore the grounds on foot or by car along pleasant, well-kept paths surrounded by trees and open spaces.
Within the shrine grounds grows an ancient wisteria tree called Goryu no Fuji, estimated to be between 200 and 300 years old with an uncommon structure of five long branches growing closely together. This rare botanical feature is especially striking during spring when the flowers bloom, creating a gentle beauty that adds depth to the shrine experience.
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