Togakushi Shrine Five-Shrine Pilgrimage ③

This is the third installment of the Togakushi Shrine five-shrine pilgrimage.
Last time, I finished visiting Hinomiko Shrine. ↓

You can enjoy this whether you read the link first or start from this article.
This time, I will walk from there to Chusha. As I passed through the forest, a different side of Togakushi began to reveal itself.

So, the third part starts here.

After finishing my visit to Hinomiko Shrine, I head toward Chusha.

When you return to the path you came from at Hokosha, there is a sign that says 'Hokosha/Chusha ←', but keep going up the slope.

There is a small path that looks like you could turn right, but don't turn; keep going up along the road.

If you go straight, you will come to a construction vehicle entrance, but just cross it and keep going.

After passing by the graveyard, you will reach the second junction. There is a path to the left, but go right without hesitation.

If you follow the road, you will enter a residential area and come to an intersection.
You can go right, but take the shortcut straight ahead. There are pylons on the way, but they are just to stop cars, so don't worry about them and pass through.

As you go up the narrow, steep slope, you will reach a junction. Go left here. After that, just keep climbing the slope.

There are several soba noodle shops along the slope, and you can hear the pleasant sound of 'ton-ton-ton' as they cut the noodles before opening. It naturally gets me excited.

The Togakushi Tourist Information Center appears on the left, and if you cross the pedestrian crossing in front, you reach the Chusha. This marks the end of the 15-minute journey from Hinomiko Shrine.

Chusha (Middle Shrine)

Deity: Ame-no-Yagokoro-Omoikane-no-Mikoto

Divine Virtues: Academic achievement, business prosperity, good fortune, warding off evil, and family safety.

The first thing that catches your eye are the three large cedar trees (about 800 years old) towering around the torii gate. They stand in an equilateral triangle, with each side measuring approximately 72 meters. There are various theories as to why they were planted, one of which involves a rather mysterious legend.

--Long ago, a fisherman from Wakasa caught a mermaid, and his children ate its meat and turned into mermaids themselves. The grieving fisherman received a divine revelation in a dream to 'plant three cedar trees in Togakushi and pray.' He became a monk, changed his name to Yao Bikuni, and planted these three cedars in front of the Chusha--that is the story.

After learning the legend, looking at the three cedar trees makes them feel not just large, but possessed of a special presence.

Finally, I climb the stone steps to the Chusha worship hall. The approach, surrounded by a grove of cedar trees, makes my heart race. This is the joy of traveling alone—moments like this.

After climbing the stone steps, the first things to greet me are two pairs of guardian dogs. They seem to be watching over me as a lone traveler, which strangely gives me a sense of peace.

Passing the guardian dogs, I finally reach the main hall of the Chusha Shrine.

Since it is early morning, I have the place almost entirely to myself. I was able to pray at my own pace. It happened to be the time for the morning service, and the sound of the prayers and the drums echoing made me feel as if my heart was being cleansed.

The deity enshrined here, Ame no Yagokoro Omoikane no Mikoto, is also said to be involved in the legend of the Heavenly Rock Cave, just like the deity of the Hinomiko Shrine. It is said that when Amaterasu Omikami hid in the cave, he devised the rock cave kagura dance, which led to the opening of the cave.
It makes sense that he is credited with blessings for academic success and business prosperity, given his role in 'generating ideas and creating opportunities.' I prayed while thinking that I would like to be a bit more of an idea person myself.

After finishing my prayers, I head to the 'Sazare-taki Waterfall' located right next to the main hall.

I refresh my bracelets with the water from Sazare-taki Waterfall.
Today, I brought the two I usually wear and the three that are my 'starting lineup' for this trip.
I will purify the bracelets that stayed home this time at another location.
These bracelets were also introduced in [Togakushi Shrine Five-Shrine Pilgrimage ①]
'Orion Shop'
and are available for purchase there.
Since the owner, Rigel, weaves them by hand one by one, they are durable, stylish, and have a special feel to them.
It seems like it would take a long time to talk about them, so I will save the details about the bracelets for another time.
For those who are interested, I have posted a link, so please be sure to check it out.

Now, I will return to the Chusha Shrine for a moment, and to the left as you face the Chusha Shrine...

There was a shrine office. It was still closed because it was early morning, but I heard you can get fortune slips, amulets, and red seal stamps here.
The shrine office, standing quietly in the peaceful grounds, had a somewhat special atmosphere.

Come to think of it, the fortune slips at Togakushi Shrine (Okusha, Chusha, and Hokosha) are a bit unique. When you tell the shrine staff your age and gender, they recite a prayer to the great deities of Togakushi before shaking the cylinder. You then receive a fortune slip from the stick that comes out—I feel like the sense of gratitude is doubled compared to a regular fortune slip.

Proceeding along the West Approach in front of the shrine office,

I pass the water purification pavilion on the West Approach (from the direction of the visitor parking lot) and the torii gate, leaving the Chusha Shrine behind.

Finally, the next stop is the final destination, the Okusha of Togakushi Shrine. What kind of scenery will I encounter there...?
The rest will be in the next post.