Located on Otaki Castle Town Street, this shrine serves as the local guardian deity. It's also known for its morning market.
While the founding date is unknown, it was rebuilt in the mid-Heian period and is said to have been renovated during the Sengoku period under Masaki Daizennosuke Tokitaka, making it one of the most prestigious shrines in Otaki. The enshrined deity is Susanoo-no-Mikoto.
The existing shrine buildings were constructed in stages during the Edo period, consisting of the main hall, regular hall, and worship hall, and the current structure continues that tradition.
Visit the shrine to see the sculptures.
While the artist is unknown, both the worship hall and main hall are filled with sculptures, making for a truly impressive composition. The ceiling painting on the porch has faded, making it difficult to discern the detailed design.
It is our hope that these sculptures will continue to be carefully preserved as cultural assets of the shrine that have been passed down along with the history of the castle town.
(Memo)
- Visited on a Saturday after 9:00 AM
- There was ample parking space behind the shrine
- I walked around the well-maintained grounds, admiring the sculptures
- There are no goshuin (stamps) or stamps, but it's a shrine worth traveling from afar to see.
I stopped by on my way back from surfing.
Apparently, you can only get the temple stamp on January 1st and 2nd, and it's very quiet on weekdays when there's nothing special going on.
There's not much else around, except maybe Otaki Castle, which is a little further away.
The carvings in the main hall were very beautiful.
There is a magnificent torii gate at the entrance, and a waterway as well.
I visited before 11am on a Saturday, and there were hardly any people there.
They don't offer goshuin stamps or anything like that, but if you're in Otaki, why not stop by?
This is the main guardian shrine of Otaki Town.
Isumi Shrine originated when Honda Tadakatsu, while developing the castle town, invited Gozu Tenno (a deity associated with ox-headed samurai) and enshrined him in a Gozu Tenno shrine.
It has been protected by successive lords of Otaki Castle.
Following the separation of Shinto and Buddhism during the Meiji era, it was renamed Isumi Shrine.
During renovations to the shrine's roof, an internal investigation of the main hall revealed a sacred mirror, and it was discovered that there are three enshrined deities.
It is said that "Susanoo-no-Mikoto" is in the center, "Ōnamuchi-no-Mikoto" is on the right, and "Inada-hime-no-Mikoto" is on the left.
Susanoo-no-Mikoto and Inada-hime-no-Mikoto are husband and wife, and their descendant Ōnamuchi-no-Mikoto is Ōkuninushi-no-Mikoto, who is enshrined at Izumo Shrine. Therefore, it is said to have particularly strong blessings for matchmaking, marital harmony, safe childbirth, and child-rearing.
The temple is open in the morning on days ending in 5 or 0, and it seems to be quite lively.
The temple grounds were spacious and bright even in the evening. There was also an irrigation canal.
