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Japan's First Shrine! Susanoo & Inadahime's Newlywed Life: Go to Suga Shrine's Okumiya! The Birthplace of Waka Poetry

2022年2月23日 20:15

The land where Susanoo defeated the Yamata no Orochi and lived happily with his wife, Inadahime. After receiving a prayer slip at the shrine office and writing down your wishes, tie them at the Okumiya (inner shrine) and offer the slip! The megalithic rock at the Okumiya is a power spot where the parents and child are together!! It's a bit of a hike, but it's very refreshing!!
Susanoo arrived in this land, said "Sugasugashi" (refreshing), and upon seeing the clouds rising around the palace, he composed the poem: "Eight clouds rise, the eight-fold fence of Izumo, for my wife to dwell within, I build an eight-fold fence, oh, that eight-fold fence."

Change History
2022/09/16 Added after visiting
2022/02/23 First edition

▼HP

Susanoo-no-Mikoto, who defeated the Yamata no Orochi at the headwaters of the Hi River, arrived at this land of Suga with Inadahime and said, "My heart is refreshed," and built a palace. Seeing the beautiful clouds rising at that time, he sang, "Eight clouds rise, the eight-fold fence of Izumo, for my wife to dwell within, I build an eight-fold fence, oh, that eight-fold fence."
He built the first palace in Japan and settled there. This is the "Suga-no-miya" recorded in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, and it is Japan's first shrine. (From the official website)

▼Access

260 Suga, Daito-cho, Unnan City, Shimane Prefecture

▼Deities

Susanoo, Inadahime, Suganoyuyamanushiminasarohikoyamanomikoto
*Although the shrine writes it as "Kushinadahime-no-Mikoto," I will use Inadahime.

▼Highlights

According to the Kojiki, after defeating the Yamata no Orochi, Susanoo searched for a land to live in with his wife, Inadahime, and this is that place. Does this mean they moved to this shrine after Yaegaki Shrine?

The identified site of "Suga-no-miya" recorded in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki. There is a custom of visiting both the main shrine and the Okumiya.
At the Okumiya, which stands on the hillside of Mt. Yakumo, there are three megalithic rocks—large, medium, and small—nestled together, known as the "Couple Rocks," where Susanoo, Inadahime, and their child, Yashimano-Mikoto (Yashima), reside.

By the way, the famous sword used to defeat the Yamata no Orochi is enshrined at Isonokami Jingu in Nara, and you can hear this story if you listen to the head priest. Furthermore, the Ohara District section of the Izumo Fudoki seems to have been written by the Katsube clan, who are the head priests here.

▽Suga Shrine

It is impressive that there are 400-year-old cedar trees on both sides in front of the worship hall.

The approach has a vibe similar to Tamaki Shrine in Totsukawa, Nara. The waka poem expressing Susanoo's feelings for Kushiinada, as written in the Kojiki, is inscribed here. Well, it was also at Yaegaki Shrine, though...

This is the worship hall and main shrine building.

These are the auxiliary and subordinate shrines.

-----↓2022/09/16
　Worshipped from the back right of the precincts. A place I didn't notice last time. Susanoo's wife Inada-hime's parents are here!

　　~~In the back on the east side of the precincts,~~the 'Shajitsu Shrine' and 'Mioya Shrine' are enshrined. It is said that Ashinazuchi and Tenazuchi, the parents of Inada-hime, are enshrined at Mioya Shrine~~apparently~~.

Returning to the main hall from the back right of the shrine grounds, there is a temporary hall.

-----↑2022/09/16

To the right of the main hall is the Ushio Shrine.

It feels like there are Kōjin shrines everywhere in Izumo...

If you go further in, there are auxiliary shrines, but I skipped them today due to time constraints. More importantly, off to the Okumiya! I asked for directions at the shrine office and headed there by car!

~~In the back on the east side of the grounds, the Shajitsu Shrine and Miya Shrine are enshrined. It is said that Ashinazuchi and Tenazuchi, the parents of Inadahime, are enshrined at the Miya Shrine.~~

▽Suga Shrine Okumiya

Suga Shrine's Okumiya is located about 2km away, a shrine with a rock seat (iwakura) nestled beside a small shrine. The path to the rock seat is unpaved but well-maintained, and you can feel the atmosphere of Shinbutsu-shūgō (syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism).
Walking sticks for hiking are provided at the entrance, so I borrowed one even though I wasn't going on a full hike, as the path is unpaved.

After driving up a narrow road for about 5 minutes, I arrived at the entrance to the Okumiya. I parked my car in an open space.

There is a natural chozuya (water purification pavilion) called 'Shinsen Sakane-mizu' along the approach.

The enshrined deities are Susanoo, Inadahime, and their child deity, Yashimano-mikoto.

Please check out the video by the 'Shimane Prefecture Unnan City Tourism Association' for the Okumiya! It is quite narrow.

Since I don't have photos of the Okumiya, I'm relying on others.

▼Travelogue

↓The NOTE version is detailed. ↓The Jalan version is concise.

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▼Places to visit together