Tekuteku Note: Visiting the Precinct Shrines of Omiya Hikawa Shrine (Part 1)

I visited Hikawa Shrine in Omiya Ward, Saitama City. I walked along the approximately 2-kilometer approach from the First Torii gate to visit the main shrine and the Snake Pond.

Returning from the Snake Pond, there is a sacred pond. The spring water from the Snake Pond flows into this sacred pond. It seems that water used to flow from the east side of the sacred pond toward Minuma.
Minuma was a large marsh that once existed to the east of Omiya and Urawa, and today it is mostly farmland. There is a theory that 'Minuma' refers to 'Mi-numa' (august marsh) or 'Kami-numa' (divine marsh).
The Munakata Shrine stands at this sacred pond.

The enshrined deities of Munakata Shrine are:
○ Tagiri-hime no Mikoto
○ Ichikishima-hime no Mikoto
○ Tagitsu-hime no Mikoto

The three Munakata goddesses were born from the ukei (divine pledge) between Amaterasu and Susanoo.
They are the children of Susanoo, who is the enshrined deity of Hikawa Shrine.
The head shrine of Munakata Shrine is Munakata Taisha in Fukuoka Prefecture, also known for the World Heritage site Okinoshima.

Because it enshrines Ichikishima-hime, it is also worshipped as Benten-sama.
The existence of the 'Minuma Seven Benten' around the Minuma area suggests that this marsh was believed to be a place where gods resided.

An Inari Shrine stands in front of Munakata Shrine.

An Inari shrine with several red torii gates lined up.
The enshrined deity is Ukanomitama no Mikoto. I, Karasaki Yau, am not very good with Inari shrines. I love Inari sushi and kitsune udon, but it seems that is different from the shrine itself.
I offer my respects when I see one, but I always feel a sense of tension. As if I am being glared at by a fox...
The head shrine of all Inari shrines is Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto Prefecture.

Matsuo Shrine stands to the east of the sacred pond.
The enshrined deity is Oyamakui no Mikoto.

The head shrine of Matsuo Shrine is Matsuo Taisha in Kyoto Prefecture. Oyamakui no Mikoto is also the god of sake.
The first thing I, Karasaki Yau, ever tasted in my life was sake. I was still a child. I was happy drinking the sacred sake from the household altar. Since it was in a tokkuri (sake bottle), it wouldn't be noticed if I stole a little bit. However, although the bottle hid the contents, it was useless because it showed on my face immediately.

To the south of Matsuo Shrine, right next to the Third Torii gate, there is a monument.
The Monument to the Battleship Musashi.

Musashi was the last warship built by the Imperial Japanese Navy.
A deity divided from Hikawa Shrine was enshrined within the battleship Musashi and named Musashi Shrine. For the completion ceremony on August 7, 1942, a priest from Hikawa Shrine was dispatched to conduct the ceremony.
On October 24, 1944, Musashi sank in the Sibuyan Sea after being attacked by the U.S. military during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

This concludes the west side of the approach. Next time, I will guide you through the east side.