2025.04.11

Gods of Ise Province (5) Takihara Shrine and Takihara Shrine

vibration

Tucked away in the town of Ōki, Dokai District, Mie Prefecture, Takihara Shrine is a separate shrine of the Ise Jingu Inner Shrine and is a special place that has been revered as Haruka Shrine since ancient times. It is called "Harukagu" because it is located away from Ise Jingu Shrine, and its tranquil air and sacred forest envelop visitors with deep emotion and healing. After driving from Tsubaki Grand Shrine and about 40 minutes from Iseshi Station, I stepped into this sacred place.

Ise Jingu is a general term for 125 shrines, including 14 separate shrines, including the Inner and Outer Shrines, and 109 shrines, including Setsha, Suesha, and Jurisdictional Shrines. These shrines are spread over the four cities of Ise, Matsusaka, Toba, and Shima, as well as the two counties of Watarai and Taki, and each place continues to preserve its own history and beliefs. Among them, Takihara Palace is positioned as one of the most important separate palaces.

There are 10 shrines in the Imperial Grand Shrine, Arasai Shrine, Tsukiyomi Shrine, Tsukiyomi Ara Soul Shrine, Isanagi Shrine, Isanamiya Shrine, Takihara Shrine, Izo Shrine, Kazehi Prayer Shrine, and Wahime Shrine, and 4 shrines in Toyoke Grand Shrine: Taga Shrine, Tsuchi Shrine, Tsukiyami Shrine, and Kaze Shrine, for a total of 14 separate shrines. The Betsugu is a "separate shrine" to the main shrine and plays an important role after the main shrine. Each of these shrines enshrines a different god and has its own set of rituals.

Article Contents

A mystical experience of the forest where the gods descend, Takihara Shrine and the surrounding area

A mystical experience of the forest where the gods descend, Takihara Shrine and the surrounding area

This time, as part of the "Ise-san 125 Shrine Tour", I decided to visit Takihara Shrine and Takihara Shrine, which are called "Takihara Tour". While feeling the tranquil space of Takihara Shrine and the pure air of Takihara Shrine, I visited each shrine in the hope of receiving the power of the Great God of Ise.

Takihara Palace: A space woven with eternal history and sacred forests

The history of the shrine of Takihara Shrine and Takihara Namigu Shrine is very old, and its history dates back to about 2,000 years ago. According to the Yamatohime Seiki, the 11th Emperor Hirohito's daughter, Isomiya, in the lower reaches of the Miyagawa River, departed from Isomiya in the lower reaches of the Miyagawa River in search of a place for the throne of the Imperial Throne. As she proceeded upstream, she discovered a beautiful land called "the land of Takihara in the Great River" and built the palace of Niu on that land, which is said to be the origin of Takihara Palace.

In this place, far from the center of Ise Jingu, time was flowing peacefully, as if time had stopped. As you walk along the path surrounded by deep greenery, you will feel as if your mind is quiet and you are free from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The space where the sunlight gently shines through the trees and the singing of birds echoes comfortably is truly a place that deserves to be called a sacred forest.

The Sacred Forest Where God Descends from the Heavens, the Origin of Nature Worship

Around the 7th century, the concept of a shrine or shrine meant the sacred grove itself. At that time, people felt the presence of God in nature, and instead of building special buildings, they worshipped the forest itself. In the Manyoshu, there is also a song that describes such a state of nature worship.

"Pray to the shrine of Nakisawa for the sake of the gods, and my king will not know the high days."

This song was sung by Queen Hinokuma and expresses the sadness of Prince Takaichi's ascension to heaven despite the fact that he prayed for the repose of the prince by offering divine sake to the shrine of Nakisawa. It should be noted here that the "Shrine of Hazawa" is called "Mori (Forest)". From this song, we can see that the people of that time regarded the forest as a sacred place and worshipped the gods.

In fact, the Uneotsu Tamoto Shrine that appears in this song does not have a temple, but rather an empty well surrounded by a jade fence, and retains its ancient primitive form of ritual. The shrines in the Minami-Ise region originally meant forests, and there were no special buildings, and nature itself was the object of worship.

It can be said that Takihara Shrine is a place that embodies the sacred forest itself. The palace area is very large at 440,000 square meters (10 times the size of Tokyo Dome), and it is said to be the former palace of Ise and Ise Jingu. The Miyagawa River, a clear stream that flows next to Takihara Shrine, has been revered as a sacred river since ancient times. Long before the shrine was built, this place was revered as a forest where the gods descended.

The order of worship of Takihara Shrine and the benefits of each company

Takihara Shrine has a fixed order of worship since ancient times.

Takihara Palace

Takihara Shrine

Wakamiya Shrine

Nagayuke Shrine

It is said that by visiting each shrine, you can feel the sacredness of Takihara Shrine more deeply and receive the benefits.

Takihara Palace

Shrine ・ Amaterasu Ōkami Soul
A shrine that enshrines the soul of Amaterasu, and is the center of Takihara Shrine. It is said to have benefits such as national security, a bountiful harvest of five grains, and good luck.

Takihara Shrine

Shrine ・ Amaterasu Ōkami Soul
It is a shrine that sits alongside Takihara Shrine, and like Takihara Shrine, it enshrines the soul of Amaterasu. It is said that by visiting the shrine together with Takihara Shrine, you will receive more powerful power.

Wakamiya Shrine

It is the shrine under the jurisdiction of Takihara Shrine, which is located east of Takihara Shrine, facing south at the top of the stone steps. Since ancient times, the god of the festival has not been detailed, but there is a legend that it was the god of heavenly water (candy mikumari).
Since it enshrines the god of water, the god of heavenly water, it is said to have benefits such as begging for rain and praying for a good harvest.

Nagayusuke Shrine

It is a shrine that faces west at the east end of the site, and Kawashima Shrine, which is also in charge, is seated. Both are considered to be very old, but the details are unknown.
The exact benefits are unknown, but as the guardian deity of Takihara Palace, it is said to have benefits such as family safety and no illness or disaster.

Miraculous Forest: A Sacred Space with All Your Senses

If you visit Takihara Palace, everyone will instantly understand that this is a special forest. Listening to the sound of the clear stream, which is so gentle that it seems out of this world, and being surrounded by the wind that heals the mind and cleanses the whole body, you will feel as if all the fatigue and filth of your daily life are disappearing into the distance.

The Jomon forest, which has been passed down untouched by humans since ancient times, still retains its pristine appearance, as if it had traveled back in time. The space is full of the vitality of the trees, deeply moving visitors and makes them feel the power of nature.

I am grateful for the miracle of encountering this sacred grove. It is my sincere hope that this miraculous forest will be passed on to future generations in its current state.

Guchenji: A place that tells the history of the palace

At Takihara Shrine, as in Ise Jingu, a ceremonial relocation is held once every 20 years. The old shrine is the site where the shrine was enshrined until the last time the shrine was relocated, and it is the place where a new shrine is planned to be built at the next relocation.

By visiting this place, you can feel the history and tradition of Takihara Shrine, and you can reaffirm the importance of the Shinto ritual of relocation.

Tagihara Shrine, a forest where water spirits gather

The Takihara Shrine, which sits about 6 kilometers away from Takihara Shrine, is the shrine of the Inner Shrine and is a space surrounded by silence. It is said that the god Managokami, who is a deity, came to be enshrined in this area because he helped the life of Wahime and her party who were troubled by the rapids of the Miyagawa River.

The god Manahu greeted the group who were in trouble with the rapids of the Miyagawa River and prepared a ferry, so the god Miseno Yashiro established the shrine to enshrine the god Manahu in the place. This is said to be the origin of the current Imperial Grand Shrine Setsha Takihara Shrine.

It is located on the banks of the Miyagawa River in Misegawa, Omiya Town, about 6 km north of Takihara Shrine, and until recent years there was a "Mise Pass" on the Kumano Highway.

A little way up the mountain from Takihara's palace, there is a small sign, tucked away in the village. From there, if you go down a narrow slope on foot, you will see the Takihara Shrine.

Takihara Shrine, like Takihara Shrine, has a pure air and a sacred atmosphere. Standing on the banks of the Miyagawa River, this shrine is filled with wonderful qi and makes you feel as if the spirits of the water are gathering.

When you visit Takihara Shrine, be sure to visit Takihara Shrine and visit both shrines, so that you can feel the power of Ise's great god more deeply.

A trip to experience the depth of Takihara Shrine, Takihara Shrine, and Ise Shrine

Takihara Shrine and Takihara Shrine are special places where you can experience the depth of Ise Jingu. In a space surrounded by a sacred forest, you can refresh your body and mind while feeling the eternal history and natural beauty.

Why don't you visit these two shrines, receive the power of the Great God of Ise, and be healed in the rich nature?

Midori

Access Information

Takihara Palace

Train: Get off at Takihara Station on the JR Kise Main Line and walk for about 15 minutes.

Car: About 20 minutes from the Ise Expressway "Sewa Taki IC"

Parking lot: Yes (free)

flower

Takihara Shrine

Car: About 15 minutes from Takihara Shrine (about 5 minutes walk from the parking lot)

Public transport: Due to the difficulty of access, it is recommended to visit by car.

Parking lot: Yes (free, about a few units)

What's nearby

There are several places to visit and accommodation near Takihara-gu, including:

Tonomiya Shikata Shrine is Japan's only shrine dedicated to the guardian deity of the head. It is said to have benefits such as wisdom, academic achievement, and prosperous business.
Ouchiyama Milk: A shop where you can taste fresh milk and dairy products. Soft-serve ice cream and yogurt are popular.
Minshuku and Ryokan There are many guesthouses and inns in Daikicho where you can spend a relaxing time in an environment rich in nature.

We hope that it will help convey the charm of Takihara Palace and Takihara Shrine, and that it will be a reference for your trip.
The Jomon forest has been passed down from place to generation without human intervention since ancient times. I am grateful for the miracle of encountering this sacred grove.
I hope that this miraculous forest will be passed on to future generations in its current state.

I want to read it together