"This ancient shrine enshrines Amaterasu Omikami and Toyouke Omikami. Suikohime-no-Mikoto and Shirakumo-wake-no-Mikoto are also enshrined here. The exact date of its founding is unknown, but it is believed to have become the main shrine in the 600s. Blessings include safety for the household and good health.

Legend has it that a snake is the incarnation of Omononushi-no-Mikoto, with the head representing Omikami Shrine and the tail representing Nagao Shrine.

The Nagao surname is said to have originated from the fact that this area was the birthplace of the powerful Nagao clan.

Enshrined at the intersection of several old roads, the shrine is also said to be the god of travel, as travelers would pray there for safety.

The grounds beyond the distinctive torii gate with a small roof are clean and pleasant to visit.

The highlight is the Ema-den, located to the right of the worship hall. It is unusually large, measuring just 50cm wide. It's unclear when it began, but in this area there is a custom of offering votive plaques when a child is born, and these are offered at the annual autumn festival. Incidentally, the designs offered for boys and girls are different.

No parking available. I couldn't find any place nearby where I could park on the street. There is a paid parking lot north, towards Iwaki Station. Motorbikes and bicycles can park there without any problems."

Ar Kn

"If you're coming by car, there's a coin parking lot just north of our shrine.

According to legend, there's a white snake stretching east to west across the Nara Basin, with our shrine on its tail and Omiwa Shrine on its head.

This may be a metaphor for a dragon vein or underground water vein.

The main deities are Amaterasu and Toyouke.

Then there are the two deities, Mizuhime (Mihikahime) and Shirakumowake (Shirakumowake),
daughter and father.

It's said that Mizuhime
was encountered by Kantake (Jinmu) in Yoshino during his eastern expedition,
and according to one theory, she is the mother of Yamato no Sukune no Mikoto (Shiinetsuhiko no Mikoto/Uzuhiko).

Her son, Shiinetsuhiko, was the governor of Tsukushi Province in Kyushu,
and met Kantake at Hayasui Gate (Toyo Strait) before his mother, who had left Miyazaki Jingu Shrine to continue his eastern expedition.
This suggests that the information network was surprisingly developed at the time.

If Shiinetsuhiko's father was Takeitate, then Takeitate and Suikohime may have been husband and wife.

Incidentally, Takeitate and Ugayafukiawasezu are likely half-brothers,
and from Shiinetsuhiko's perspective,
Watazumi Toyotamahiko would likely be his great-grandfather.

Shiinetsuhiko's seventh-generation grandson is said to be Nagaoichi, the first chief priest of Yamato Shrine.
Our shrine's enshrined deity, Suikohime,
could likely be one of the princesses who supported Ryugu, Kagoshima Shrine, and the Watatsumi family.

Suikohime. We don't know her lineage, but
she may have come all the way from Manai in Tango to Yoshino to investigate and supervise the mining of cinnabar.
As can be seen from her son, Shiine Tsuhiko, it seems that Princess Suiko also had ties to Tsukushi, Tango, and Yamato."

なかむらゆづき 624

"This shrine has a calm atmosphere.
Although it is a snake-related shrine, it is a nice place as there is a white tree frog on the steps in front of the main hall.
There is a stone statue of a frog in front of the shrine, so I wonder if frogs are enshrined as well as snakes?
If you are going here, it is best to take the train.
I don't think there is a parking lot.
You might be able to see a lot more if you stop by Taimadera Temple on the way back."

Kyle M