Kasuga Myojin Shrine
shrine
Kasuga Myojin Shrine
春日明神神社
Overview
Kosanji Temple’s Kasuga Myojin Shrine is dedicated to Kasuga Daimyojin, the collective name for the four Shinto deities enshrined at Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara, an ancient capital of Japan.
Finding a Shinto shrine inside a Buddhist temple grounds might seem surprising, but at Kosanji Temple it reflects the beliefs of the founder, monk Myoe (1173-1232). The Kasuga Myojin Shrine is dedicated to the four deities of Nara's Kasuga Taisha, which Myoe loved deeply and visited often. His reverence for the shrine was so strong, legend says, that when he had long planned a pilgrimage to India, the deity advised him not to go and he complied. Until the Meiji Restoration separated Shinto and Buddhism in law, syncretic practices like this were common across Japan. The shrine is a quiet corner within a landscape shaped by that layered history.
Local tips
Purify your hands at the temizuya before approaching the main hall. Left hand first, then right, then pour water into your left hand to rinse your mouth.
Practical info
- Japanese name
- 春日明神神社
- Nearest station
- Saga-Arashiyama Station (15 min bus)
- Payment
- Cash only
- Reservations
- not required
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