Miyajidake Shrine, Shinto shrine in Fukutsu, Japan
Miyajidake Shrine rises at the top of a stone stairway, with a long approach road that extends straight toward the Genkai Sea. The main hall stands on a raised platform and is surrounded by smaller auxiliary buildings, while the grounds also include a large ancient megalithic tomb from the Kofun period.
The shrine was founded in the 4th century, when the region served as an important hub for trade and exchange with the Asian mainland. Over the centuries, successive generations expanded the complex and added buildings, while the megalithic tomb on the grounds dates back to an even earlier era.
Local volunteers gather annually to create a new shimenawa rope for the shrine, maintaining a tradition that connects the community to their spiritual heritage. This ritual cord marks the boundary between the ordinary and the sacred, hanging at the entrance to the main hall as a visible sign of devotion and collective effort.
Visitors reach the shrine by taking the JR Kagoshima line to Fukuma Station, followed by a short bus ride to the Miyajidake-jinja-mae stop. The climb up the stone stairway leads to the main area, while the grounds are expansive and comfortable shoes are recommended for exploring the different sections including the tomb site.
The shrine houses Japan's largest ceremonial objects: a three-ton shimenawa rope, a 450-kilogram (992-pound) copper bell, and a 2.2-meter-diameter (7.2-foot) taiko drum. These extraordinary pieces stand in the courtyard and can be viewed up close by visitors, with the rope replaced regularly during special ceremonies.
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