Visiting shrines in Ōmisoka~Part 1 Kashīgū

About 10 minutes from Hakata station in central Fukuoka, getting off the train at Kashī station. Kashīgū is about 20 minutes on foot.
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Walking along the tracks for a while. A stone monument saying "大社香椎宮近道 (meaning: Shortcut to Kashīgū)" can be seen. The path to the left leads to Kashīgū too, but continuing on.
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Kashī-Miyamae station on the Nishitetsu Kaizuka Line can be seen in the distance. It is one of the closest station to Kashīgū.
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The street on the other side of JR Kagoshima line is called Chokushidō. This tree-lined street is the main path to Kashīgū.
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A stone monument with the letters "Taisha-Kashīgū" The word “Kanpei” is filled up but still readable.
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Soon after the railroad crossing there is the first torī of Kashīgū.
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Before continuing on to Kashīgū, going up the slope on the right.
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On top of this slope is the Tongū of Kashīgū.
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A Tongū is where a mikoshi travels to in a festival. Once in two years, 3 mikoshi s travels here along with a procession of people in traditional costumes in the spring festival. The Tongū is under reconstruction now.
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Going down the slope and returning to the Chokushidō.
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Chokushidō is the main path to Kashīgū and is about 1km long. It is said that, in old times, it was only used by imperial envoys or in festivals.
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Looking back at the railroad crossing. The shoreline used to be around where the Nishitetsu Kaizuka line runs, but in the Showa period the sea was reclaimed and now the shoreline is about 1km away.
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Continuing on to Kashīgū. This brilliant tree-lined street was constructed using trees dedicated to the shrine in 1926.
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The path crosses JR Kashī line.
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Approaching Kashīgū.
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Kashīgū in sight on the left side.
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The second torī, at the entrance of Kashīgū.
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The sign of Kashīgū.
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Next to the torī there is a sign board with the Kashīgū made of mizuhiki, decorative Japanese cord made from twisted paper, drawn on.
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Going through the torī.
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The path continuing to the main shrine.
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On the left is a Benten-sha.
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This Benten-sha is dedicated for Ichikishima-no-mikoto, and is said it is here since the Kashīgū was founded.
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The Benten-sha built on a small island in a pond.
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Around June, more than 2000 irises will be in full bloom.
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Continuing on to the main shrine.
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The third torī.
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After going through the third torī, there is a Rō-mon. This gate was rebuilt in 1903.
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The Rō-mon from the rear.
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After going through the Rō-mon, there is a chōzuya, a watershed to cleanse your hands.
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Near the chōzuya there is Takeuchi shrine, an branch shrine. It is dedicated for Takeuchi-no-Sukune-no-mikoto, one of the five great vassals serving Emperor Chūai and Empress Jingū.
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Continuing on.
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In front of thestone steps is a pair of Komainu. This one on the right.
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The komainu on the left..
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Going up the stone steps, the last corner to the main shrine. On the right is the Aya-sugi.
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Aya-sugi is a cedar tree over 1800 years old. When Empress Jingū returned from Sankan-seibatsu, the conquest to Silla, she buried the three treasures, a sword, a spear and a cane and planted a cedar stick there making a pledge to protect the dynasty forever.
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On the top of the last stone steps is the Naka-mon. This gate was rebuilt in 1902.
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Going through the Naka-mon.
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The hengaku carried on the haiden with the words "香椎宮 (Kashīgū)"
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From this side, three buildings, The haiden, the heiden and the honden. In other shrines the heiden is what is called a haiden, but in Kashīgū it is called the heiden since it is where the imperial envoy performs ritual ceremonies to present the Heihaku, sacred silk and other sacred materials.
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The Naka-mon from the rear.
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The Honden, main shrine, is Kashī-zukuri, an architectural style only seen in Kashīgū. It was built by Kuroda Narikiyo the 10th head of Fukuoka domain in 1801.
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The Honden surrounded by a fence.
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A roof in a complicated shape, with a hip-and-gable roof with a chidori Hafu, a triangular shaped gable in the front, and another two gable roofs sticking out left and right.
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The Honden from behind.
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The Honden from the left side.
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The Honden seen through the fence. There is a porch on both sides, so the dieties can get on and off from a mikoshi directly.
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Trees grow thick inside the fence around the Honden.
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On the left side of the Honden is Takeuchi shrine.
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The Sōgakuden, where ceremonial music or dances are performed, on the left of the Honden.
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Going all the way around the Honden and to the Juyo-sho.
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A number tag handed while waiting to get a goshuin.
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The goshuin of Kashīgū.
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On the side of the heiden is a gun barrel which belonged to Imperial Japanese Navy battle ship Settsu. It was placed here in 1923 in commemoration of Empress Teimei's visit to the shrine traveling on the vessel in 1922.
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The shinsen-sho on the right side of the honden. It is where the food that are served for the dieties are prepared.
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The gate on the right of the honden leads to the Furō-sui.
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On the left is Makio shrine, an branch shrine dedicated for Nakatomi-no-Ikatsu-no-mikoto, one of the five great vassals serving Emperor Chūai and Empress Jingū.
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About a five minute walk to Furō-sui.
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A torī that leads out side of the shrine.
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The street right in front leads to the Furō-sui, but before continuing on, taking a detour to the Furumiya on the right.
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At top of the stone steps is the Furumiya. This is where Empress Jingū built a shrine for her husband Emperor Chūai and where the Kashīgū was founded. Also, there was a shrine dedicated for Emperor Chūai until his spirits were transferred to the main shrine in 1915.
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It is also told that this is where Empress Jingū and the vassals had a council around the coffin of Emperor Chūai. The tree standing inside is called "Kan-kake-no-shī (棺掛椎, meaning: Castanopsis tree to lean a coffin)". It is said that when Empress Jingū, wanting to hide Emperor Chūai's death, leaned the coffin against this tree, a pleasant smell filled the area and the foul odor faded out. It is said that it is the origin of the name around this area "Kashī".
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The path to the right.
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The path leads to where Emperor Chūai set up a camp to defeat the Kumaso.
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Emperor Chūai died here when he was staying here to defeat the Kumaso. It is said that his death is because he went against the three Sumiyoshi gods's oracle.
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Leaving the Furumiya. On the other side of the road is where Kashīgū is now.
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Continuing on to the Furō-sui. An average residential area.
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There are not many signs leading to the Furō-sui but is not a difficult way.
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Soon a wooden sign indicating the entrance of the Furō-sui will be in site.
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Approaching the Furō-sui.
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Inside the torī there is the well which the spring water, "Furō-sui", comes out.
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The well is inside the shed.
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Opening the door. This door is locked outside of opening hours.
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Lifting the lid, the Furō-sui springs inside. "Furō-sui" means "the water of eternal youth". It is said that Takeuchi-no-Sukune drank this water and lived until 300.
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There are some cups and a funnel to have this water.
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Drinking the Furō-sui. However the sign here says to boil the water before drinking it.
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Leaving the Furō-sui.
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Returning to the Kashīgū.
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Going through the torī.
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Back at the main shrine.
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Going through the Naka-mon and seeing the Aya-sugi.
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Beside the Aya-sugi is Inari shrine and Keiseki shrine.
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Keiseki shrine with a pair of statues of chicken in front. It is said that in the Edo period, a Buddhist priest mourning for a chicken's death, changed the chicken into a rock to enshrine it. It is a unique shrine that deifies a chicken.
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After passing Keiseki shrine, there is a small pond called Kame-no-ike. Around the pond is an azalea garden.
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Around the hill next to the pond are some stone monuments.
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A statue of Takeuchi-no-Sukune. The baby in his arms is Emperor Ōjin.
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On top of the hill is an branch shrine, Hayatsuji shrine. The enshrined diety is Ōtomo-no-Takemochi, one of the five great vassals serving Emperor Chūai and Empress Jingū.
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At the foot of the hill is an branch shrine, Hamao shrine. It was originally near the railroad crossing of JR Kagoshima line but due to land readjustment it was moved here temporarily.
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Near the Aya-sugi, there is the Chokushi-kan. It is where the Chokushi, imperial envoy stays.
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The Aya-sugi seen from in front of the Chokushi-kan.
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Looking back at the Naka-mon.
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Going back to the entrance.
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Leaving Kashīgū.
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On the other side of the street is an branch shrine, Kuchise shrine. The enshrined diety is Hata-no-Yashiro-no-Sukune, the son of Takeuchi-no-Sukune.
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Going to the opposite direction. It is an average street unlike the Chokushidō.
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In about 3 minutes, Kashī-jingū station can be found on the right.
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Kashī-jingū station is the nearest station to Kashīgū. A torī is drawn on the station sign.
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Getting on Kashī line, and heading for the next destination.
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