Jul.31st, 2021
Approach to the shrine
The cherry blossom, appearing in classical poetry, waka, also used as the crest of the shrine, is a symbolic tree if Mount Hōman. There are many cherry blossom trees planted along the approach path to the main shrine of Kamado shrine, blooming beautifully every spring.
Also, there are more than 300 deciduous trees, such as maples and ginkos, planted as a part of a tradition called "Momiji-age", all around the shrine. In November, the autumn leaves color the shrine beautifully. During this period, the trees are lit up at night, making a splendid sight.
Besides the approach to the shrine, there are some foundation stones, those are said to be the remains of Kamadosanji. A total of 48 stones were placed here, 8 in the north and south direction and 6 in the east and west direction, and are estimated to be those of the late Heian period, in the 12th century.
Kamadosanji was a major temple with more than 300 shukubōs at the foot of the Mount Hōman.It is said that Saichō, the founder of the Tendai school of Buddhism, visited the temple before sailing to Tang China as a part of an envoy and carved four statues of Yakushi, wishing for the success of the mission and a safe voyage.
Honden and Haiden
The main shrine buildings, made of Japanese cypress with copper sheet roofing, were built in 1927. In 2013,celebrating the 1350th anniversary of the shrine, they gone through renovation works.
The honden is "Nagare-zukuri", a style of gable roof.
The haiden is "Kirizuma-zukuri" a style of gable roof.
Ogatama-no-ki
On the right to the honden, there is the Ogatama-no-ki.
A ogatama is a kind of evergreen tree belonging to the Magnolia family. Since it is said that, when Amaterasu-ōmikami shut herself inside the Ama-no-iwato, terribly grieved for Susanō-no-mikoto's acts of vandalism, and the world plunged into darkness, Amenouzume-no-mikoto performed a kagura with a brach of a ogatama in her hand, and Amaterasu-ōmikami came out of the cavern, restoring light to the world again, a ogatama is considered to be a sacred tree bringing good luck and relations.
A ogatama has white aromatic flowers in spring, and would bear round fruits in autumn, those are told to be the origin of the bells used for kagura dancing.
Saikachi-no-ki
The tree planted on the right of the haiden is the Saikachi-no-ki. A saikachi is a Japanese honey locust. It is said that Empress Jingū planted a saikachi on the top of Mount Hōman wishing for the reunion with the people close to her, before she left on her conquest to Silla (Sankan-seibatsu).
Reflecting this legend, it is believed that praying for the reunion with one's love, or matchmaking, would make it come true.
Aikei-no-iwa
The Aikei-no-iwa is a pair of stones, and it is believed that if one can walk from one stones to the other with eyes closed, love would be fulfilled.
Also, it is said that if one could success at once, the wish would come true very soon, and if one could success with a guidance of someone else, the wish would become true with the help of other people.
Observation platform and Kōfuku-no-ki
Besides the juyosho, there is an observation platform commanding an extensive view of the city of Dazaifu. The sunset can be seen in the evening, and the quiet night seen of Dazaifu can be viewed at night.
On the observation platform, there is the Kōfuku-no-ki, meaning "the tree of luck". It is believed that writing a wish on a koyori, a strip of paper, and tying it on the branch of the tree, wishing sincerely, would make the wish come true. It comes from the tradition of Jūroku-mairi, when 16 year olds climbed Mount Hōman, and tied a koyori with a wish on the branch of a tree at the top of the mountain.
