Sesshoseki Inari Shrine [Fukushima]

【nine-tailed kitsune (fox spirit, kitsune are said to be more powerful than any other fox) and sesshoseki(stone that kills)】

Long ago, an evil “nine-tailed fox” specter incarnated into the form of a beautiful woman and served the court, but when its true identity was revealed by an onmyoji, it fled to Nasu. The fox was defeated and transformed into a giant stone, but it continued to emit evil spirits and noxious gases.
Later, a monk named Gen’o (1329-1400) came to Nasu and, in an attempt to break the curse of the stone, swung a large hammer down on it and smashed it into three pieces, one of which flew to Aizu, another to Bizen, and the last one remained in Nasu.

*It is said that pieces of the killing stone were scattered in three locations around Japan named “Takada” (various theories exist). It is generally believed that they were scattered to Takada in Mimasaka Province (present-day Katsuyama, Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture), Takada in Echigo Province (present-day Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture), Takada in Aki Province (present-day Aki Takada City, Hiroshima Prefecture), Takada in Bungo Province (present-day Bungotakada City, Oita Prefecture), or Aizu Takada (present-day Aizu Misato Town, Fukushima Prefecture).

【Sesshoseki Inari Shrine summary】

Sesshoseki Inari Shrine is a branch of Isasumi Shrine and was founded in 1848. In the past, the Miya River was flooded, struck by lightning, and caught fire, causing a series of disasters. The shrine was built and enshrined, and the disasters were drastically reduced. Since this is an Inari shrine, the deity is Uganomitama no Kami (God of Uganomitama). The head shrine of Inari is Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto.

Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine [Kyoto]

【Sesshoseki Inari Shrine Senbon-torii (thousand torii) 】

Isasumi Shrine is entered from the side of the Iris Garden parking lot on the opposite side. The “Senbon-torii” (thousand torii) are said to be increasing year by year, which looks very Instagram-worthy, just like the Inari Shrine.

I think it is about half the length of the Otome Inari Shrine in Tokyo. The plastic torii gates, which are becoming more common these days, are somewhat tasteless, but they seem to be durable and must have cost about 300,000 yen each.

Nezu Shrine and Otome Inari Shrine [Tokyo]

【Sesshoseki Inari Shrine precincts】

After passing through the Senbon-torii gate, the hall of worship can be seen, and the front of the hall faces the Miyagawa River. The precincts of the shrine are not large, but they are beautifully maintained. Although not shown in the photo, there seems to be a main shrine and a sealing stone that sealed the killing stone in the back of the hall of worship.

【Sesshoseki Inari Shrine Nearby attractions】

Isasumi Shrine

Isasumi Shrine (Iwashiro Province Ichinomiya Shrine) [Fukushima]

【Sesshoseki Inari Shrine Access】

Manager’s Comments

It would be interesting to visit the places where the so-called “killing stones” actually exist in various parts of Japan and are sealed by temples and shrines in search of the truth.

scenery

 (3.5)

ambience

 (3)

access

 (2.5)

my opinion

 (3.5)

Sesshoseki Inari Shrine

4377 Miyabayashi-kou, Aizumisato-cho, Onuma-gun, Fukushima 969-6263, Japan

※Free parking available

Approx. 10 minutes by car from “Aizu-Takada Station” of JR Tadami Line

About 25 minutes on foot from “Aizu Takada Station” of JR Tadami Line

参考

伊佐須美神社公式サイト | 岩代国一之宮・会津総鎮守

伊佐須美神社 | 会津美里町