Within the temple grounds stands a large cedar tree registered in the Ministry of the Environment's Database of Giant Trees and Forests.
Trunk circumference: 6.70m, Tree height: 30m, Registration No. 42682
The large cedar stands to the right of the stone steps leading to the shrine building after passing through the torii gate.
Perhaps because it stands on a slope, the roots of the cedar swell considerably.
While cedars are generally imagined to grow straight and tall, the roots of this tree are unlike those of a typical cedar, possessing a voluminous appearance almost like an old camphor tree.
I visited Aburahi Shrine and was by chance invited here while driving.
I was confused by the same shrine name, but the deities enshrined there are different, and this shrine may have been a separate entity. The enshrined deity is Amenooshihi no Mikoto, the ancestral deity of the Otomo clan, and the shrine enshrines many deities, including local clan deities.
You have to climb some steep stone steps to enter the shrine, but the large cedar tree towering over you like a guardian deity along the way is undoubtedly a sacred tree.
The grounds are beautiful and refreshing, with a magnificent stage and cobblestones laid out in rows. It's amazing, as it would require significant maintenance to maintain.
The main hall cannot be seen from the worship hall, but there is a torii gate to Aoyama Inari to the side, which allows you to see all the main halls from there. There are three main halls in total: two Nagare-zukuri style and the main hall of Inari Shrine. All are simple, but as an object of worship, I think this simple feel is appropriate.
If you are visiting by car, you will have to park on the street and your visit will be short. There is relatively little traffic, but please be careful.
I went to the famous Aburahi Shrine!!
It was just as I imagined, a very dignified shrine.
It was wonderful to be able to breathe the same "atmosphere" as in that movie.
Also, by chance, I was able to hear many stories about the filming from the head priest, which was very moving.
I would like to visit again if I have the chance 😉
This is the Aburahi Shrine that isn't the one I was expecting.
It's a small shrine, but it was solemn and beautiful.
