Masumida Jinja Shrine

As I have written in the previous post, hubby and I had been to hubby’s ancestral home in Ichinomiya City of Aichi prefecture during the New Year holidays. We enjoyed our stay at home and celebrated the holidays with many unique customs. One of the customs and traditions during the New Year is to visit a shrine or a temple. This first trip to a shrine or a temple is known as Hatsumode. Hatsumode festivities are held at practically every shrine and temple across the country. People often visit a shrine after midnight on December 31st or sometime during the day on January 1st. It is also a sort of annual ritual and tradition for us to visit a nearby shrine wherever we are during the New Year holidays. This year, although we were unable to visit a shrine on the first day itself, we visited Masumida Jinja Shrine located in the city in the afternoon of 4th January.

Masumida Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in Ichinomiya City. The shrine had the highest shrine rank called Ichinomiya of the former Owari province. In fact the city got its name Ichinomiya from the rank of this shrine. The date of the foundation of the shrine is unknown but the historical Kujiki records indicate that the shrine was founded in 628 BC. The shrine is also mentioned in the early Heian period Engishiki records and was styled as the highest ranked Ichinomiya shrine of Owari province since the end of the Heian period. The shrine enjoyed the support and protection of Oda clan followed by Tokugawa Shogunate until the end of Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, the shrine was granted the status of second ranked national shrine called Kokuhei Chusha in 1875. The primary god or Kami of the shrine is Amenohoakari no Mikoto who appears in the Kujiki records as a descendant of Amaterasu, and the ancestor of the prehistoric Owari clan.

Hubby and I visited Masumida Jinja Shrine in the afternoon of 4th January. We borrowed my father-in-law’s car and left our home at about 2 pm. The shrine is located about 5 kilometers east of our home and it took us just 10 minutes to reach there by car. After parking the car at a parking lot, we walked along a street for about 10 minutes and reached the shrine. We saw that a huge crowd had come to do Hatsumode ritual that day. At the entrance area of the shrine, we saw a stone monument called Shagohyo with the name of the shrine inscribed on it. After the collapse of an earlier stone monument in July 1929, the present one was built in August of the same year. The calligraphy inscription on the monument was done by a person named Oshima Kimikawa of Nagoya City. Shagohyo monument looked so exquisite. We also saw a huge elegant stone Torii Gate located at the entrance of the shrine precinct. In addition, we saw a pair of Kadomatsu displayed on either side of this gate. A Kadomatsu is a traditional decoration of the New Year placed in front of homes or shrines to welcome the ancestral spirits or the god of the harvest.

I am standing in front of Masumida Jinja Shrine precinct. Shagohyo monument is seen on the right side of the photo (red arrow).

I am standing in front of the stone Torii Gate of the shrine

I am standing next to a Kadomatsu decoration

We walked past the Torii Gate and saw a makeshift bamboo water house named Temizuya located right in front of us in the shrine precinct. At Temizuya we washed our hands and rinsed our mouth before offering prayers at the shrine. It is a symbolic act to clean the mind and body of impurity. It should be mentioned that there is a Temizuya located further inside the shrine precinct and this makeshift bamboo Temizuya was constructed just for the purpose of catering to the huge crowd visiting the shrine for Hatsumode celebrations. As we continued walking towards the shrine buildings, we saw a huge banner with ‘Hatsumode route’ written on it. Because of the large number of visitors to the shrine during the New Year holidays, this banner served as a sort of route guidance to the worshippers. After walking for a few more steps, we saw a sacred bridge named Shinkyo Soribashi. It is a very short stone bridge with a steep graceful arch. This bridge is traditionally and customarily the gateway from the real world to the sacred premises of the shrine. Visitors are not allowed to walk over the bridge. So we walked along the pathway adjacent to the bridge. Walking further for a few more steps, we saw a huge wooden plaque board called Ema with the picture of a monkey displayed on it. Monkey is this year’s zodiac animal. The front of the shrine precinct looked so elegant and peaceful.

I am washing my hands at a makeshift Temizuya

Hubby and the huge banner with ‘Hatsumode route’ written on it

Shinkyo Soribashi arched stone bridge

I am standing near a wooden Ema plaque with the picture of a monkey displayed on it

Hubby standing at the front side of the shrine precinct

Next we saw a beautiful huge wooden main gate named Romon. The present gate structure was constructed in 1961. It is decorated with gold accents and projects an imposing, strong, and protective quality. We also saw an elegant crest engraved on both the doors of the gate. The crest has nine leaves of bamboo inside a wheel of bamboo. The crest reminded us of the ancient Samurai history of Japan. We appreciated the gate and its architecture for some time and took a few photos of the gate from various positions and angles. Afterwards we passed through Romon Gate and stood in the most sacred premises of the shrine.

Romon Gate

I am standing next to the crest engraved on one of the doors of the gate

Backside of the gate as viewed from inside the sacred premises of the shrine

Backside of the gate as viewed from further inside the sacred premises

After passing through Romon Gate, we saw the main buildings of the shrine right in front of us. The main buildings consist of Haiden Prayer Hall in the front and Honden Main Hall behind (north of) Haiden Hall. The construction of these two buildings was completed in 1957. Kami god is enshrined inside Honden Main Hall. This Main Hall is not visible from the front side of the shrine precinct and people are generally not allowed to enter inside this hall. Worshippers pray at Haiden Prayer Hall. The Prayer Hall is a wooden building with intricately carved ornamented roof. Beautiful rotund braided rice straw rope called Shimenawa hangs at the entrance of the Prayer Hall. The Prayer Hall building looked so simple, elegant, and graceful. We loved the architecture of the Prayer Hall and took several photos of the building.

I am posing in front of Haiden Prayer Hall

Enlarged view of the Prayer Hall

People waiting patiently in front of the Prayer Hall

Intricately carved ornamented roof of the Prayer Hall and rotund Shimenawa rope hanging at the entrance of the hall

There was a big crowd of people in front of us waiting to offer their prayers at Haiden Prayer Hall. We had to wait for almost an hour to offer our prayers. Finally when we reached the altar of the Prayer Hall, I offered some coins into the offertory box, clapped my hands twice, and prayed. I prayed for the well being of my family as well as friends. While praying I noted that two priests were performing some ceremony inside the hall.

I am praying in front of Haiden Prayer Hall

Priests performing some ceremony inside the hall

Next we leisurely walked around inside the sacred premises of the shrine. To the east of the main buildings, we saw a beautiful statue of a horse called Shinme that is considered to be sacred and divine in Shinto religion. Afterwards we walked towards the west of the main buildings where we saw a well called Shinsuisha. When Emperor Meiji visited this shrine on 25th October 1878, he drank this well water during luncheon. We loved seeing this historical well. Next we went to a shop located near Shinsuisha, and bought a pair of cute monkey dolls which are supposed to beckon better luck. Monkey is this year’s zodiac animal.

I am standing in front of the statue of Shinme horse

Shinsuisha Well

A pair of cute monkey dolls

Afterwards we came out of Romon Gate and left the most sacred premises of the shrine. Outside this gate, adjacent to the makeshift water house Temizuya, we saw a decoration of several huge barrels of Sake rice wine called Kazaridaru. The Sake barrels were wrapped in straw blankets, and were stacked and bound together by rope on a wooden frame. These decorative barrels are offerings to the god of the shrine.

I am standing in front of several huge barrels of Sake

Hubby and I loved visiting Masumida Jinja Shrine for Hatsumode festivities during the New Year holidays.

Zenkoji Temple and Inaba Shrine

During the New Year holidays hubby and I had been to hubby’s ancestral home in Ichinomiya city of Aichi prefecture for about a week. We reached Ichinomiya on 30th December in the afternoon and had dinner with relatives. The next day hubby, father-in-law and his wife went to play golf. I stayed at home and watched television programs the entire day.

The next day was the first day of 2012. Japanese New Year called shogatsu is considered to be one of the most important annual festivals in Japan and is celebrated with many unique customs. There is a tradition during the New Year to visit a shrine or temple. This first trip to a shrine or temple is known as hatsumode. Hatsumode festivities are held at practically every shrine and temple across the country. People often visit a shrine after midnight on December 31 or sometime during the day on January 01. January 1st is considered to be an auspicious day, and so hubby and I decided to visit Zenkoji Temple and Inaba Shrine in Gifu city of Gifu prefecture. We borrowed father-in-law’s car and left hubby’s ancestral home at about 10 am. The shrine and the temple are located about 19 kilometers north of hubby’s home and it took us 50 minutes to reach there by car.

After parking our car at a car parking lot, we walked on a narrow street for about 10 minutes and reached Inaba Shrine. Zenkoji Temple is located within the shrine premises. We saw that a huge crowd had come to do hatsumode and there were many police officers to guide people. The shrine precincts had many food stalls for the special occasion and it was very lively. On entering the premises, we saw a small temple named Anrakuji where many visitors offered their prayers.

A huge crowd inside the shrine premises

Anrakuji Temple

After walking for a few more minutes inside the premises, we reached Zenkoji Temple. Zenkoji is a Buddhist temple of the Shingon sect in Mino province which is the modern-day Gifu city. The temple is also known as Inaba Zenkoji as well as Gifu Zenkoji. Although it is not known when this temple was built, it is assumed to have been built in the late 16th century when Oda Nobunaga lived in nearby Gifu Castle. The principal image of worship is a statue of Zenkoji Nyorai. The main hall of the temple was burnt down during an earthquake in 1891, and was reconstructed in 1912. We walked up the stairs that led to the verandah of the main hall. On the verandah, we saw a glass structure that looked like a floor lantern with many lit candles inside. Next to it, there was a small stall selling various kinds of white candle charms. I bought a white candle worth 200 yen with ‘shintaikenzen’ (body health) written on it. I lit the candle, placed it inside the lantern, and prayed for good health and well being of my hubby. I hope he continues to have a body which is free of any sickness and disease. Next, I prayed at the altar of the main hall for the peace and well being of my family. Afterwards as we were walking down the stairs of the main hall, we saw a big crowd of people in the temple complex.

Zenkoji Temple and the crowd

Zenkoji Temple

Hubby standing in front of Zenkoji Temple

A floor lantern located on the verandah of the temple

I am holding a white candle with ‘shintaikenzen’ written on it

After lighting the candle, I am placing it inside the lantern

Altar of the temple main hall

Crowd of people as viewed from the verandah of the temple main hall

Next, we walked further up inside the shrine premises and visited Inaba Shrine. Inaba Shrine is a Shinto shrine located at the base of Mount Kinka in Gifu city. This shrine is thought to have been established when Emperor Keiko dedicated the land of Tsubakihara (currently Maruyama in Gifu Park of Mount Kinka) in the year 85. The shrine has a history of more than 1925 years. Though the shrine was originally located in Maruyama, it was moved about one kilometer south to the present location by Saito Dosan in 1539. The god Inishiki-Irihiko-no-mikoto is enshrined and worshipped at this shrine. This god is popular as the general guardian deity of the birth place of Gifu. The shrine is also a very popular spot for hatsumode.

As we walked up towards Inaba Shrine, we saw a huge banner with hatsumode written on it. After walking for a few minutes, we saw a torii gate named Otorii. Walking past this gate, we came across another torii gate. There was a large crowd around us. Many police officers were employed to ensure a smooth and orderly flow of people. We had to wait for almost 30 minutes near the second torii gate. As we started moving again, to our right we saw a beautiful statue of a horse called Shinme-zou. Shinme horse is considered to be sacred and divine in Shinto religion.

A banner with hatsumode written on it

Otorii Gate

Another torii gate

A statue of Shinme horse

As we walked further up, we saw a sacred bridge named Shinkyo. This bridge is traditionally the gateway to the shrine. It is a very short stone bridge with a steep graceful arch. Visitors are not allowed to walk over the bridge. So we had to walk up the stairs located adjacent to the bridge. Afterwards we had to wait for 15 minutes for the crowd to move forward. While waiting, we turned around and took a few photos of the bridge and the crowd.

Shinkyo Bridge and torii gate along with a big crowd of people

Shinkyo Bridge

Another view of Shinkyo Bridge

Next, we saw a flight of stairs that led up to a beautiful huge wooden gate named Romon. There were many visitors waiting on the stairs. We took a few photos of this gate.

Romon Gate and the flight of stairs

Romon Gate

Romon Gate and the crowd of people

After passing through Romon Gate, we saw yet another flight of stairs that led to a second wooden gate named Shinmon. Here also, there were many visitors waiting on the stairs. We took a few photos of Shinmon Gate from outside as well as from inside after passing through it.

Shinmon Gate and the flight of stairs

Shinmon Gate as viewed from inside after passing through it

Next, we saw the main prayer hall named Haiden. It is a wooden building with intricately carved roof. Beautiful rotund Shimenawa straw rope hung at the entrance of Haiden Hall. Here again, we had to wait for almost 30 minutes as there was a big crowd in front of us waiting to offer prayers. Finally when we reached the altar of the prayer hall, I offered some coins into the offertory box, clapped my hands twice, and prayed. I prayed for the well being of my family as well as friends. But I could not pray properly as the people standing behind me pushed and shoved to reach the altar. So I moved slightly to the side of the hall and prayed again. Hubby compiled a video of me praying at the altar of Haiden Hall. While moving out of the hall, I noticed that the offertory boxes were full of coins.

Haiden prayer hall

Another view of the prayer hall

Shimenawa straw rope hanging at the entrance of Haiden Hall

People praying at the altar of Haiden hall

Offertory boxes full of coins

A compiled video of me praying at the altar of Haiden Hall

Afterwards we went to a shop located near Haiden prayer hall, and bought a pair of omamori amulets called fuufu-omamori which is supposed to bring good fortune and happiness for husband and wife. We also bought a pair of cute dragon dolls called Kaiun-shofuku which his supposed to beckon better luck. Dragon is this year’s zodiac animal.

Shop selling omamori amulets

Fuufu-omamori amulets

A pair of dragon dolls

After staying near Haiden prayer hall for about 15 minutes, we walked down the stairs and left the shrine precincts. While walking back towards the car parking area, we saw a seemingly endless crowd of people coming to do hatsumode.

Crowd of people we saw while leaving the shrine premises

It felt nice to begin the year by visiting Inaba Shrine. Later in the day we visited Gifu Castle located nearby about which I will write in the next post.