Bingonokuni Ichinomiya Kibitsu Shrine is said to have been founded in the Heian period.
It enshrines Ōkibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto as the main deity, with his consort, Kamo-hime-no-Mikoto, enshrined alongside him.
After the shrine buildings were destroyed during the Genkō War, they were rebuilt in 1332, and during the Edo period, the shrine was revered by the Asano lords of Hiroshima Domain.
The current main hall was reconstructed in 1648 by Mizuno Katsunari, lord of Fukuyama, and features an elegant structure with a frontage of five bays, a depth of three bays, and a cypress-bark roof.
It is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
Within the shrine grounds are the Twelve Deities Shrine, which enshrines twelve deities including the children of Ōkibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto, and the Sakurayama Shrine, built in 1331, where cherry blossoms still bloom beautifully each spring.
This shrine is said to have been founded during the reign of Emperor Tenmu (672 AD) and is one of the three Gion shrines of Bingo.
The main deities enshrined are Susanoo-no-Mikoto, Kushinada-hime-no-Mikoto, and Hachioji-no-Mikoto, who are believed to grant a wide range of blessings, including protection from misfortune and evil, warding off calamities, good matchmaking, and good fortune.
Susanoo-no-Mikoto, also known as the Heavenly Way God, governs directions and disasters.
Kushinada-hime-no-Mikoto, the goddess of rice ears, is revered for her virtues in matchmaking and protection from misfortune.
Hachioji-no-Mikoto, the eight divine children, are also considered deities of directional and calamity protection.
The auxiliary shrines worship Somin Shorai, the god of epidemic prevention; Hishoma-Kihana-Mame-no-Kami, the god of recovery from illness; and Sugawara no Michizane, the god of learning.
In the Edo period, Michizane was enshrined at terakoya (temple schools) nationwide, attracting strong faith for academic success.
The Gion Festival is a ritual held to calm epidemics and natural disasters and to restore peace.
It is based on the faith in the shrine’s deities, Gozu Tennō and Susanoo-no-Mikoto.
Although its exact origin is unknown, it has long been passed down as a sacred event for warding off epidemics, and in the Izumo region in particular, it spread widely as “Gion Faith.”
The festival is characterized by mikoshi processions and lively parades, and similar festivals can be found in various regions.
Bingo Ichinomiya Shrine is regarded as the birthplace of the “Chinowa Ritual” associated with the legend of Somin Shorai.
According to the legend, Somin Shorai, a wanderer from the north, warmly welcomed Susanoo-no-Mikoto during his journey despite his poverty.
Later, when an epidemic spread, only the descendants of Somin, who wore a ring of cogon grass (chinowa) around their waists, were spared.
From this story arose the ritual of passing through the chinowa to ward off epidemics and misfortune, which has now spread throughout Japan.
Within the shrine grounds stands the Tenmangū Honji-dō, a remnant of the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism, where, based on the honji suijaku belief, Sugawara no Michizane is enshrined as the Buddha manifestation of the deity.
In the Edo period, a splendid Honji-dō stood here, housing Buddhist statues and altars.
Iwakiyamajinja Shrine is located at the southeastern foot of Mount Iwaki, in Hyakuzawa, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture. It is also known by the nicknames “O-Iwaki-sama,” “O-yama” (“The Mountain”), and “Oku-Nikkō” (“Inner Nikkō”). Formerly ranked as a National Shrine of the Third Rank (Kokuhei Shōsha), it is regarded as the Ichinomiya (highest-ranking shrine) of the Tsugaru region.
Founded: Traditionally dated to Hōki 11 (780)
Main Hall Style:Sangensha Nagare-zukuri with copper roof tiles
Annual Festival: August 1 (lunar calendar) – Hassaku Festival
Since ancient times, the shrine has been revered as the guardian deity of agriculture and fisheries, as well as the god of Tsugaru’s development, and as a sacred resting place for the ancestral spirits of the local people. The approach to the shrine is also known as one of the climbing routes to Mount Iwaki, whose inner shrine (Okumiya) is located near the mountain’s summit.
The shrine buildings retain remnants from the era of Shinbutsu-shūgō (syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism), displaying the structural influences of esoteric Buddhist temples from the Kamakura period. At the same time, colorful decorative carvings reminiscent of the Momoyama period adorn the complex. Its ornate appearance has earned it the nickname “Oku-Nikkō” (“Inner Nikkō”), drawing comparisons to Nikkō Tōshō-gū.
Five deities are collectively enshrined as Iwakiyama Ōkami:
•Utsushikunitama-no-Kami (Ōkuninushi-no-Kami)
•Tatsubihime-no-Kami
•Ukanome-no-Kami
•Ōyama-tsumi-no-Kami
•Sakanoue no Karitamaro no Mikoto
There are several theories about its origin, but the oldest tradition states that in Hōki 11 (780), a shrine building was first erected at the summit of Mount Iwaki. In Enryaku 19 (800), after subduing northeastern Japan with the divine aid of Iwakiyama Ōkami, General Sakanoue no Tamuramaro rebuilt the summit shrine. Later, a lower shrine (Oriinomiya, present-day Genkiyama Shrine) was established in the Tokoshinai area, and the summit shrine became known as the Okumiya. Tamuramaro is also said to have enshrined his father, Karitamaro, here.
In Kanji 5 (1091), following a divine message, the lower shrine was relocated from Tokoshinai to the Hyakuzawa area on the southeastern foot of Mount Iwaki, and renamed Hyakutaku-ji. This marked the origin of the present Iwakiyama Shrine. At that time, the mountain’s summit also had three Buddhist halls dedicated to Amida, Yakushi, and Kannon, and the site was known as Iwakiyama Sansho Daigongen of the Shingon sect’s Hyakutaku-ji Temple, attracting devotion from local lords and land stewards.
In Tenshō 17 (1589), a volcanic eruption of Mount Iwaki completely destroyed Hyakutaku-ji. Reconstruction began in Keichō 8 (1603) under Tsugaru Tamenobu, and continued with donations from successive lords such as Nobumaki, Nobuyoshi, and Nobumasa. The main sanctuary (honden), the inner gate (okumon), and the surrounding sacred fence (mizugaki) were collectively known as Oriinomiya and served as the chief guardian shrine of the Tsugaru domain during the Edo period.
•Shamusho (Shrine Office) – A designated Aomori Prefectural Cultural Asset. Built in Kōka 2 (1845) in irimoya-zukuri style with a thatched roof, it was designed to accommodate visits by the domain lord. Surrounding the central “Lord’s Room” (Goza-no-ma) is an earthen-floored veranda (tsuchien), with adjoining rooms such as Otsugi and Ozendate. Minor renovations have been made for use as the shrine office.
•Main Hall (Honden) – An Important Cultural Property. Built in Genroku 7 (1694) by the 4th domain lord, Tsugaru Nobumasa, in Sangensha Nagare-zukuri style with copper roof tiles. The entire structure is coated in black lacquer, accented with gold leaf, and richly decorated with vividly painted carvings and ornate metal fittings. The roof features karahafu and chidori hafu gables, and the front porch pillars bear elaborately carved ascending and descending dragons, making it a truly splendid edifice.
At the top of the stone steps in front of the tower gate, on either side of the stone wall, stand corner pillars adorned with guardian lion-dogs in amusing shapes. The one on the right looks upward, while the one on the left looks downward. Beyond their charming facial expressions, they appear to be playfully interacting with the pillars, giving them a humorous touch.
“Dake Kimi” is a premium sweet corn grown in the Dake Highlands at the foot of Mt. Iwaki in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture. With a sugar content of over 18 degrees—on par with or even sweeter than melons—its kernels are so sweet they can be enjoyed raw. The cool climate and fertile soil at an elevation of 400–500 meters produce plump kernels with a delightful pop and juicy flavor. Freshly harvested, its taste is truly exceptional and unforgettable. At the grounds of Iwakiyama Shrine, you can savor professionally boiled Dake Kimi for just 300 yen.
