Ikuta Shrine [Hyogo]

【Ikuta Shrine Summary】

Ikuta Shrine was founded in 201 AD. The main deity is Hikahirume no Mikoto. This deity first appeared out of divine divination when a boat stopped moving in the port of Kobe. Originally a god of waterway safety, marriage, and childbirth, the deity has come to be revered as a “god of revival” after the Kobe floods, air raids, and reconstruction following the Great Hanshin Earthquake. The shrine became famous after the wedding of celebrities Kika Fujiwara and Tomonori Jinnai.

【Ikuta Shrine premises】

IIn the precincts of the shrine, we could see torii gates and stones that collapsed during the Ansei Earthquake, as well as sacred trees that were burnt during the Kobe Air Raid. There is a legend that Ikuta Shrine was once enshrined on Mt. Nunobiki, and that the sacred body was moved to this Ikuta Forest in 799 A.D. In any case, there is no doubt that this deity has been handed down from the ancient Jomon beliefs.

The shrine is home to many ancient gods and goddesses, including Inari, the god Ugajin, Benzaiten, said to be the same god as Seoritsuhime, and Ebisu, the first child of Ijo no Miho and Ijo no Jue no Miho. The shrine is also home to historical sites such as the “Ichinotani Battle,” one of the largest battles in the Genpei War, and the “Battle of the Minatogawa River” between Ashikaga Takauji and Kusunoki Masanari.

【Ikuta Shrine Access】