Usa Shrine: Usa City, Oita Prefecture

Usa (Jingu) Shrine hold a special place in my heart.  It was the first shrine that I ever visited on my first trip to Japan many moons ago.  Of course in those days I was wide eyed and bushy tailed and the many intricate details and cultural norms of the Shinto religion were obviously lost on me but nevertheless the shrines sheer size (one of the biggest in all of Japan) and brightly colored buildings are still etched in my brain even today.

Usa Jingu is one of the most important Shinto shrines in Japan with a history that spans close to 1300 years. Its main deity is Hachiman, who is worshipped as a guardian of the country and the imperial family. Shrines dedicated to Hachiman are among the most numerous in Japan and Usa Jingu serves as their head shrine. As you can guess, this holds the Shrine as one of the most important in Japan and rightly so.

The size of the land that Usa Shrine sits on is absolutely massive.  I don't know exactly how big it is but all I can say is that it quite a long trek from the carpark to the main shrine buildings.  Not that you will complain, the walk is exciting and adventurous as well as being a real cultural and mature orientated experience.  The walk is mostly flat so in reality no problems for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness.

I know a lot of people might be saying, oh no not another shrine especially for those who are doing an all Japan cruise and visiting many cities during their itinerary.  However, I can say for certain that this shrine will be like no other that you have visited or will intend to visit.  I am sure you will see this in all the photos and videos posted below.

Please check out the Usa Shrine below on a map:

 

Please click on the photos below to enlarge:

One of the many massive torii gates

Well signposted in English

Japanese flag is always present

Purification station

Shinto symbols

Sake and Shinto are intertwined

Impressive ponds are front and center

Picturesque indeed!

Please check out the Usa Shrine here in more detail from the following videos:

Sohonzan Shrine: Saikai Town, Nagasaki Prefecture

Our popular WW2 History and Culture Tour of Nagasaki incorporates a long drive at the beginning of the day. I was looking for a location to visit in order to reduce the time spent between attractions. Low and behold this huge Torii (Gate Entrance of Shinto Shrines) came into view and instantly I knew that this was the place that I was looking for.

At first, I thought that the Cultural component of the tour would be boosted to meet up with the many historical locations already firmly in place. But little did I expect the Sohonzan Shrine to tick every box and literally surprise me to no end that this location in its own right is one of the highlight attraction of the whole day.

It has everything you need as a shore excursion stop.  A chance to stretch your legs, a toilet break, nature and landscapes, a strong cultural component and in total a site that makes you glad it was included in the itinerary. 

Of course, in my time here in Japan, I have been to a thousand shrines. Some are excellent, some are ho hum, some are preached as the most important or religiously significant shrines of the region.  In this case, I won't do any of that but what I will tell you is that Sohonzan Shrine will leave a strong impression on you even if you have been to many in the past.

I am really please that many of our clients have felt exactly the same way about their visit and time here at Sohonzan Shrine as I did on my first time.  It is now a mainstay attraction of this tour and I hope it will be for many years to come.

Please look below to see the Sohonzan Shrine on a map:

 

Please click on this link below to see a clients Google maps review:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/SHTuyRHzEMQuEmAy6

Please click on the photos below to enlarge:

The entrance

Pray for Ukraine

Names of benefactors

Cleansing
station

Peaceful location

Beautiful gardens

Shinto heavenly powers

Plenty of Carp

Impressive even from a distance!

The torii gate is massive

Please click on the videos below to see more about Sohonzan Shrine and its appeal.

Suwa Shrine: Nagasaki City

The famous Nagasaki Suwa Shrine is the major Shrine of Nagasaki and home to the revered Nagasaki Kunchi Festival.  It is located in the northern part of the city on the slopes of Mount Tamazono and features a 277-step stone staircase leading up the mountain to the various buildings that comprise the shrine.

The official date of construction for Suwa Shrine is 1614, the same year as Tokugawa Ieyasu`s edict against Christianity.  Although there was little more than a small structure to mark the position of the future shrine at this time, it has grown into the massive structure and many sub structures that we see today.

Suwa Shrine survived the Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.  It is thought to have survived intact due to its strategic location in the central part of Mount Tamazono southern flank.  In the aftermath of the bomb local residents were quick to note that while the famous Urakami Cathedral and surrounding Catholic neighborhoods were obliterated, the Shinto Shrine still stood. This was considered to be significant by the survivors of the bombing, showing the power of the native Japanese Gods as opposed to the imported Christian God.  In addition, Priests from Suwa Shrine took an active role in the rebuilding of Nagasaki, including consecrating the land and purifying structures that still stood after the fact.

Nagasaki Suwa Shrine is also the host to many annual festivals.  These festivals serve the joint purpose of honoring the Gods, provide a sense of community for shrine worshipers and providing exposure and income for the shrine itself.  Some of these festivals are typical to all major Shinto shrines in Japan, but some are unique to Suwa.

The most famous of Suwa Shrine's festivals is Okunchi.  This festival began along with the founding of the shrine as a way to both demonstrate its new importance in the community and as a way to hunt for Hidden Christians. Kunchi is held from October 7th to 9th every year and is considered one of the major festivals in all of Japan.  It has been designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Asset.

As of yet I haven't had the privilege to attend the annual Okunchi Festival as tickets and locations are had to obtain because of the popularity but around the city there are many complimentary places whereby free viewing performances of various dances and exhibitions are available to the general public.  It is absolutely on my to do wish list and I will be making this one of my "Must Do Nagasaki Experiences".

Check out Famous Nagasaki Suwa Shrine here on a map:

 

Please click on the photos below to enlarge:

Lots of steps to climb, 277 to be exact

The main building

Lots of shrine gates

Japanese Flag

The view from the top!

Pray time

Lots of Statues

An interesting place indeed

Interesting and beautiful water feature

Check out the videos of Famous Nagasaki Suwa Shrine below:

Takachiho Shrine and Gorge: Takachiho Town- Miyazaki Prefecture

I have been traveling around Kyushu and Japan for nearly 20 years now and in that period of time I have come upon 3 or 4 locations that just stops me in my tracks. Takachiho located centrally and in an extremely remote section of Kyushu is just one of those places that stopped me in my tracks and has lured me back again and again with its nature. 

The beauty and impact of this region is phenomenal in every sense of the word. Not only is Takachiho’s natural scene unparalleled but the historical and cultural impact on the specific region and the whole of Japan in general is significant. You see, this is where Japan was supposedly created by the Japanese gods as indicated by its original religion, namely and the Shinto. So, as you can imagine, the Japanese population is obviously enthralled with the concept that they are exploring the original origins of Japan and hence Takachiho has become a place that all Japanese people feel obliged to visit.

The first place to explore is the Takachiho Shrine to get a blessing from the gods. This is indeed a Power Spot and you can feel the warmth and positive energy radiating from the building and especially the trees. It is the trees that is intrinsically linked to the powers above and it isn’t a rare sight to see a group of people hugging and generally connecting with this phenomena. 

Please click on the photos to enlarge:

Popular location

Power Spot

Spiritual place

Looks like a typical Shrine

Feel the power

Special connections

Please click on the video below to see how spiritual this place is to so many Japanese visitors.

However, the majority of people who visit this region are coming here to see the jaw dropping scenic beauty of the area. The Takachiho Gorge although not very large in terms of size and water volume has the right amount of natural attractions to keep you interested and returning again and again to get your nature fix.

Of course the viewing pleasure of Takachiho is linked to the season that you visit. I have been lucky enough to come here at ever seasonal change and without a doubt spring and autumn are heads and shoulders above. It’s not to say that summer and winter don’t have any value to add but the cherry blossoms in March/ April and the Maple colors in Late November are so spectacular that this must be the ultimate visiting period.  

Actually the photos below don’t actually do justice to the remarkable location but please check them out and I hope it gives you the impetus to visit some day on your travels around Central Kyushu.

There are some English signposts

Plenty of bridges to enjoy

The water is so pure

The iconic shot

Nature at its finest!

Can be a busy place

Please check out where Takachiho is in Kyushu on the map below:

Please check out more of the Takachiho Gorge here on the videos below: