The solemnly peaceful 1800 year old Takachiho Shrine is set in a wonderful grove of towering Japanese Cryptomeria trees, the oldest said to be over 1000 years old. Takachiho Shrine is the head shrine of the 88 shrines of the 18 villages of Takachiho.
The most famous of the trees surrounding the shrine buildings are the ‘Couple tree’, Meoto Sugi, actually two gigantic trees growing side by side whose roots have intertwined with each other so tehy grow as one. The ritual for couples is to make a wish, then walk around the trees together clockwise three times, to ensure the wish will be granted.
The current shrine buildings date from Edo times, built in 1778 decorated with a variety of beautiful and rare buddhist style wood carvings, including elephants, tigers dragons and highly unusually depictions of one of the gods himself. Looking around the shrine you will notice the 16 petal Chrysanthemum crest on hangings and carvings, this denotes the shrine is an imperial shrine, the gods enshrined within being related to the founding gods of the nation. Mount Takachiho is where the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki (Japan’s earliest historical records) record that the Sun Goddesses grandson Ninigi No Mikoto came down to Earth to found the Yamato state and ultimately Japan. The kami enshrined are the 3 generations of Ninigi No Mikoto’s family, the first Emperor Jimmu’s brother and his family and the God of Marriage ‘Takachiho Sumigami’. Visitors to the shrine can pray for protection from evil (Jimmu’s brother destroyed an evil demon in Takachiho), bountiful harvests (Ninigi No Mikoto brought rice farming and agriculture to the people) and marital harmony.
The two ancient ‘Koma inu’ iron guardian dogs guarding the steep stairs leading up to the main building have been declared National Cultural Treasures.
On the right of the Shrine you will find the Kagura Theatre where nightly performances of the ‘entertainment of the Gods’ are performed. The performance covers highlights of 4 famous stories relating to the Shinto Gods and lasts around 1 hour, entrance costs 800 Yen, performances start at 8pm.
Travel Tips
Takachiho Shrine is free to enter, there is a large carpark in front of the shrine with free parking.
If you are feeling fit you can descend into the gorge by following a steep footpath on the right of the carpark.
Visit Takachiho Shrine and learn more about its history on a Takachiho Gorge Tour.