Shimotsuke Hoshinomiya Shrine [Tochigi]

【Shimotsuke Hoshinomiya Shrine summary】

Shimono-Hoshinomiya Shrine (Shimotsuke Hoshinomiya Shrine) was founded in 807. In 1308, Kozan Saburozaemon Asagyoshimori built a castle in the area, and Kyotsuyu-no-kami was enshrined as a guardian deity of military fortune and good fortune from Katori Jingu Shrine. The deities enshrined at the shrine are Banzutsu-no-Mikoto and Banzutsu-No-Mikoto (the deities who were incarnated on rocks from the blood on the tip of the sword when Izanagi cut off the head of Kagutsuchi, the fire goddess who caused the death of his wife Izanami, with a ten-fist sword in the “Kojiki” (Record of Ancient Matters)) and Kyotsunushi (the presiding deity of Katori Shrine, the son of Banzutsu-no-Mikoto and Banzutsu-No-Mikoto).

【Shimotsuke Hoshinomiya Shrine precincts】

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I thought the shimenawa at the torii gate might be a dragon, but it is too thin, so I think it might be a snake.

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The precincts of the shrine are not that large, but it has a somewhat Showa-era feel, as if it were a larger version of a village shrine.

【Shimotsuke Hoshinomiya Shrine golden mole (Chrysochloridae spp.)】

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A replica of a very rare golden mole found at the shrine is also on display in the shrine office. The real stuffed specimen seems to be exhibited only for a limited period of time. It is very rare for a shrine to exhibit a stuffed animal.

【Shimotsuke Hoshinomiya Shrine Asunaro Ryujin Gobashira】

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The dragon god Gobashira is a pillar enshrined based on a myth about a golden mole found on the approach to the shrine, in which the mole wishes to become a dragon. The dragon god is enshrined on the mihashira, which is based on the myth that the mole wanted to become a dragon. When the string is untied, the wish is fulfilled. This is also a very rare kind of wish.

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The Asunaro Ryujin Gobashira is tightly bundled, indicating that it is very popular. In the parking lot, I had the impression that there were many cars with license plates from other prefectures, including my own.

【Shimotsuke Hoshinomiya Shrine Some kind of Ghibli-like object.】

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There is an object that resembles Totoro Satsuki and Mei. It is unknown why it is located here, but perhaps because the small forest left in the middle of the countryside resembles Totoro’s forest? Because of this object, the shrine is also known as Totoro Shrine.

【Shimotsuke Hoshinomiya Shrine GOSHUIN】

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There are 9 types of red seals. (Seven of them are handwritten and two are handwritten.)

【Shimotsuke Hoshinomiya Shrine Nearby attractions】

Utsunomiya Futaarasan Shrine,Ikuko pottery market,Tsuna Shrine

【Shimotsuke Hoshinomiya Shrine Access】

Manager’s Comments

We stopped by on our way to Mashiko. The shrine has a long history and many visitors seemed to come to the shrine to pray for good luck in money. There are many things to see and do at the shrine, such as stone statues that look like yuru-chara, something that looks like Ghibli, a golden mole, and a wish string. The shrine also offers a wide variety of red seals, and I thought it was a shrine with good business practices.


scenery
 (3)
ambience
 (3.5)
access
 (2)
my opinion
 (3)

Shimotsuke Hoshinomiya Shrine

1530 Shimokoyama, Shimono-shi, Tochigi 329-0502

※Free parking available

Approximately 7 minutes by car from Ishibashi Station on JR lines

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