Kōra taisha, Shinto shrine on Mount Kōra in Kurume, Japan
Kōra taisha is a Shintō shrine on Mount Kōra in Kurume, Japan, recognized as an Important Cultural Property and Ichinomiya. The timber structures follow the Ishi-no-ma-zukuri method and rest on stone plinths set among tall trees and a protected bamboo grove.
The current buildings arose in 1660 through a donation from Arima Yoritoshi, the third daimyō of Kurume Domain. This renewal secured the complex's standing as a significant religious center in the region.
The shrine takes its name from the mountain where it sits, linking the site to the venerated figure Kōra Tamatare no mikoto. Visitors encounter a complex still honored as an Ichinomiya, where stone and timber elements reflect traditional building methods.
Access comes through a roughly 50-minute walk from Kurume-Daigakumae Station on the JR Kyushu Kyūdai Main Line. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear, as the path climbs uphill and includes uneven sections.
The bamboo forest on the grounds displays rare yellow Moso Kinmei Chikurin stems, designated a natural monument in 1974. This yellow coloring sets the grove apart from the green stands in the surrounding area and creates a contrast within the woodland.
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