A Must-Visit for Shrine Enthusiasts: Aburahi Shrine. The Aburahi Deity is a Mystery... But It's an Ancient Shrine. Also a Filming Location [Koka Series]
I wondered what on earth an 'Aburahi Deity' was, but since I was driving by, I decided to pay a visit, and I was truly amazed. This shrine is wonderful!! It is known as the head shrine of Koka, and many of its buildings are Important Cultural Properties. If you like Imamiya Shrine, Matsuo Taisha, Tsukiyomi Shrine in Kyoto, Isonokami Jingu in Nara, or Taga Taisha and Mikami Shrine in Shiga, you will definitely love this place. It seems it has also been used as a filming location for NHK morning dramas like 'Gochisosan' and 'Nobunaga Concerto'.
It is said that there is a Take Shrine on the summit of the sacred mountain of Aburahi Shrine, which enshrines the deity Mitsuhanome-no-Mikami. If you go out from Aburahi Shrine to the main road and climb the slope, you will find a trailhead behind the shrine. It is apparently quite a rugged path, so it is recommended to go with an expert or someone experienced. (If you have been there, please provide photos!? I'm relying on others (lol))
The inner shrine of 'Take Daimyojin' is enshrined at the summit, and Aburahi Shrine serves as the village shrine for that inner shrine. Incidentally, it seems there used to be a temple called Aburahi-ji (Kongo-ji) associated with the shrine, and its principal image is now housed at Rakuyo-ji Temple.
Change Log
2024/10/09 Video 'Take-gomori (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0E_V8gg-zY) ' added
2022/05/23 First edition
▼Website
▼Access
1042 Aburahi, Koka-cho, Koka City, Shiga Prefecture
*The parking lot indicated by navigation is some distance from the approach, but you can park your car in the parking space from the First Torii gate.
▼Deity
Aburahi no Okami
▼Highlights
I wondered what on earth an 'Aburahi Deity' was, but since I was driving by, I decided to pay a visit, and I was truly amazed. This shrine is wonderful!! Around the photo below, I realized, 'Oh, this place has the aura of a great shrine.'
It is called the head shrine of Koka, and it has a main hall, worship hall, Romon gate, and corridors, all of which are Important Cultural Properties. If you like Imamiya Shrine, Matsuo Taisha, Tsukiyomi Shrine in Kyoto, Isonokami Jingu in Nara, or Taga Taisha and Mikami Shrine in Shiga, you should like this place.
↑At this point, I remember being excited because there was a Romon gate (Important Cultural Property) and corridors (Important Cultural Property). And I thought it might be beautiful during the autumn foliage season.
Autumn leaves? And the Romon gate. There are many wonderful shrines from the Koto to Konan regions of Shiga.
There are many shrines with Romon gates and corridors, and above all, the cypress bark roofing is great!!
I thought it was a dance hall, but it was the worship hall (haiden), which is an Important Cultural Property. It continues to the main hall (honden), also an Important Cultural Property.
Until the Meiji era, it was known as 'Aburahi Daimyojin.' According to the 'Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku,' the 'Aburahi Deity' was granted the rank of Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade in 877, which shows it is an ancient shrine that existed before this time. The object of worship is the mountain behind it, and there is a trailhead to the left of the shrine buildings!!
From the left of the main hall, there is the worship hall, dance hall, gate tower, and corridors. I felt there were more visitors than last time due to the special exhibition of hidden Buddhist statues at Rakuyaji Temple.
The auxiliary shrine to the left of the main hall. I didn't know which deity it was, but the carvings on the shrine were wonderful. I looked it up when I got home, but it was unclear... At the same time, it seems to be used quite often as a filming location for movies. It certainly has a great atmosphere, doesn't it!! (For works filmed here, please refer to the official website.)
The carvings on the left and right of the shrine buildings are also quite impressive.
Autumn leaves and the main hall from the side of the main hall. It doesn't seem to have chigi or katsuogi, but it appears they are maintaining the cypress bark roof.
Well then, I will take my leave of these pleasant shrine buildings.
→ Takegomori (Mountain Seclusion)
▼ Travelogue
▼ Places to Visit Together
▼ Buddhist Statue Exhibition
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