As everyone has written, Tenmangu Shrine is located in the unlucky direction of Horyuji Temple.
During the autumn festival, the divine mikoshi (portable shrine) is transported to the Otabisho (temple hall) within the Horyuji temple grounds.
On the way, the taikodai (drum floats) and lantern floats of the five major districts of Namamimatsu, Nishizato, Higashizato, Gochomachi, and Sanmachi are lined up at the East Gate of Horyuji Temple, and then (the order is decided each year) they are transported to the South Gate, where the divine mikoshi stays at the Otabisho (temple hall) within the temple grounds for two days.
During the Mukashi Yoimiya (old festival eve) in September, the lantern floats are purified at Ikaruga Shrine. At Higashizato, children from the children's association, officials, parents, and members of the Taiko Committee participate.
The lion dogs are located between the worship hall and the main hall, and generally cannot be approached.
From New Year's Eve to New Year's Day, tents are set up, and fortune-telling slips and rakes are available. Sacred sake is also served.
The goshuin (stamp) is faded... 😢
According to the Ikaruga Town History,
"The shrine is located northeast of Horyuji Temple, adjacent to Gokurakuji Temple, on Mount Tenman. In the 1874 Yamato Province Village Shrine Inspection Record, it is recorded as Tenmangu Shrine, and it enshrines Michizane. This is because during the Tenkei era, the head priest of Horyuji Temple, Taisho, was a descendant of the Sugawara clan, and so the shrine was dedicated to him. The new shrine was originally located at the foot of the hill, but in 1735, it was relocated to the current hill. It is said that the shrine was moved to the upper level. The shrine building, a former designated village shrine, is a Kasuga-style one-bay shrine made of bare wood with a cypress bark roof. It was constructed in March 1668, August 11th year of the Kyoho era, 1859, and 1870 during the Edo period. Facing the main hall, there is a Kasuga-style hall to the left, and a second hall to the right, both of which are tiled and painted red. These three halls house six shrines: Sosha, Goshosha, Hakusansha, Taishogunsha, Itsukushimasha, and Ebisusha. The worship hall is a single-story tiled building with a plaque reading "Tenmangu Shrine." The grounds are lined with stone lanterns donated throughout the Hoei, Tenpo, Ansei, and Keio periods, through to the Meiji and Taisho periods, all bearing the inscription "Tenmangu Shrine." The 100-degree stone was donated by Tatsumi Heishiro of Nishizato on November 25th, 1860. The three shrines within the temple grounds—Sosha, Goshosha, and Hakusansha—were relocated from the Horyuji Temple grounds in July 1869. According to ancient legend, Sosha enshrines the local deity Ikarugashikono-no-Mikoto and others, and was constructed in 1310 and 1311, respectively. Goshosha is listed as one of the five Heguri shrines listed in the Engishiki (Japanese traditional writings). Some say the Gosho group includes the Sumiyoshi Shrine and the Kasuga Shrines. Hakusansha was originally a three-tiered shrine that was merged with the main hall. According to ancient legend, the former hall was built in 1601 and donated by Toyotomi Hideyori. Taishogunsha was relocated from Horyuuji Temple on April 15, 1877. The origins of the Itsukushima and Ebisu shrines are unknown. Sugawara Shrine, located in the Nakashoji area, is also merged with this shrine. The shrine enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, and the old shrine site originally housed a main hall and worship hall, with the earthen walls remaining collapsed.
