Isesaki Shrine

Japanese temple.... I went 2021 new years day.... Nicest thing....one time watchable for tourist...

Despite being in the middle of the city, this place has a distinctly different atmosphere. It's a shrine where you can strongly feel the history of Isezaki and the awe-inspiring power of Kanto's temple and shrine carving culture. It is said to have been founded in 1213 (Kenpo 1), and was originally called "Iifuku Shrine." Later, in 1926 (Taisho 15), various shrines in the former town were merged, and it became the current "Isezaki Shrine." The current worship hall and offering hall were built in 1936 (Showa 11), and the main hall was built in 1848 (Kaei 1). It strongly retains the Kanto temple carving culture of the late Edo period. What was particularly impressive was the sheer scale of the carvings on the main hall. Dragons, lions, mythical creatures, and plant motifs are carved into every available space, giving the feeling of viewing a gigantic wood carving rather than a building. The carvings are densely applied to the brackets, corbels, and even around the side panels, resulting in an overwhelming amount of detail wherever you look. Furthermore, the beauty of the wood grain itself, without relying on coloring, and the shadows created by the depth of the carving are truly magnificent. It possesses a profound and powerful presence, distinct from ostentation. The carving style strongly reflects the Kanto sculptural culture that began with Nikko Toshogu Shrine. Considering that Isesaki was a region that prospered from sericulture and weaving, the background for the construction of such a magnificent shrine makes perfect sense. The area around Isesaki Station has a modern cityscape, so I was quite surprised to find such a rich collection of Edo-period sculptural architecture remaining within it.

Isezaki Shrine is located in Honmachi, Isezaki City, Gunma Prefecture, and is the local guardian shrine, with Ukemochi-no-kami, the god of agriculture and industry, as its main deity. ⛩️ History and Origin of Name Isezaki Shrine is said to have been founded in Kenpo 1 (1213). Details Founding: Kenpo 1 (1213) Founder: Miura-no-suke Yoshizumi Original Name: Iifuku Shrine Former Common Name: Iifuku-sama Change to Current Name: In Taisho 15 (1926), several shrines in the town were merged to form Isezaki Shrine Origin of Isezaki Place Name: From the enshrinement of Ise Grand Shrine during the Genki era (1570-1573) 🌟 Features and Highlights The shrine building, constructed in Kaei 1 (1848), features extremely magnificent carvings. The inside of the main hall's roof features a propeller-like design, a rare feature installed to pray for aviation safety. There is also a stone monument to the "Isezaki Odori" dance within the shrine grounds. The shrine's crest is "Maru ni Kenkatabami" (a circle with a sword and a clover). 📅 Annual Festivals and Rituals Isezaki Shrine holds various festivals and events throughout the year. Joshu Yakiman Festival (baking extra-large manju) Spring Annual Festival Yasaka Tenno Festival Grand Annual Festival Ebisu-ko Festival 📝 Access and Other Information The nearest stations are Isezaki Station and Shin-Isezaki Station. The shrine accepts various prayers, including those for baby blessings, Shichi-Go-San (a traditional Japanese rite of passage for children), and exorcism. Goshuin (shrine stamps), amulets, and sacred gems are also available.

I visited Isezaki Shrine in Isezaki City, Gunma Prefecture. The shrine grounds had a very peaceful atmosphere, allowing for a relaxed and peaceful visit. The quiet space, far removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, was particularly appealing. The shrine offers a wide variety of goshuin (shrine stamps), all beautifully designed and charming. The paper-cut goshuin, in particular, was exquisite; I was captivated by its intricate design. I highly recommend this shrine to anyone who enjoys collecting goshuin.

It is said to have been founded by Miura no Suke Yoshizumi on September 23, 1213 (the first year of the Kenpo era), but the original site of the shrine is unknown. In 1329 (the first year of the Gentoku era), the then provincial governor, Nitta Yoshisada, moved the shrine to its current location, repaired the main building, and enshrined the three deities Yasaka, Inari, and Sugawara. The current shrine building was built in 1848 (the first year of the Kaei era) and features exquisitely intricate carvings. It was deeply revered by successive lords of Akaishi Castle, and by the Meiji era it had become a shrine of its own. The place name Isesaki was formerly Akaishi no Sato, but it is said that the name Isesaki was adopted during the Genki era (1570-1573) when Ise Grand Shrine was enshrined there. This shrine was originally called Iifuku Shrine, but in 1926 it merged with several other local shrines and was renamed Isesaki Shrine. Free parking and restrooms are available. This is a small shrine. Main deity: Ukemochi-no-Kami The goddess of food and industry, with the power to create things. Ukemochi-no-Kami created many things essential to life, such as crops, animals, fish, and silkworms. She is enshrined at many shrines as the deity of food, drink, and industry. One day, Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto visited Ukemochi-no-Kami at the command of Amaterasu Omikami. Ukemochi-no-Kami, pleased, offered Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto a lavish meal by spitting rice from her mouth toward the earth, fish toward the sea, and animals toward the mountains. However, Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto was far from pleased; he became enraged, saying, "Are you making me eat the filthy thing you spit out of your mouth?" He killed Ukemochi-no-Kami with his sword. Amaterasu-no-Omikami was furious when she heard this and declared she never wanted to see Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto again. As a result, the sun and moon began to appear separately during the day and at night. Amaterasu Omikami sent Ame-no-Kumahito, and from the corpse of Ukemochi-no-Kami, cattle and horses were born, from her head, millet from her forehead, silkworms from her eyebrows, barley from her eyes, rice from her stomach, and barley, soybeans, and wheat from her genitals. When Amaterasu Omikami brought all of these back, she was overjoyed and used them as seeds for the fields, as they were food necessary for the people to survive. Isesaki Shrine is home to 28 gods. There are also local ties, and events are held in November, January, etc.