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Ikuta Shrine: 5 Reasons to Visit This Power Spot in Kobe
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Conveniently located in Kobe's heart, Ikuta Shrine is dedicated to the guardian deity of connections and is a popular spot for visitors looking for divine relationship assistance.
Ikuta Shrine: A Historical Shrine in Kobe
Ikuta Shrine in Kobe is an over 1800-year-old shrine dedicated to the goddess Wakahirume-no-Mikoto. While Kobe is strongly associated with European-style architecture and ports, it is actually dotted with many different historic shrines.
It is said that the name of the Kobe region is derived from “Kanbe,” which is what families who protected the shrines were called. Furthermore, the secret behind Ikuta Shrine’s enduring popularity is its association with the goddess of making connections.
Wakahirume-no-Mikoto is the goddess of fabric, so in the same way that two threads are entwined together, she is worshiped for bringing people together. It is a power spot for love and relationships.
We’ll go through five of the things that make Ikuta Shrine a restorative place of worship for Kobe’s residents.
5 Reasons To Visit Ikuta Shrine
1. An Excellent Location Within Walking Distance from Central Kobe
2. Ikuta Forest: A Healing Spot Overflowing with Nature
3. Unusual “Water Fortunes”
4. Foreign-Language Omikuji, Photogenic Charms, and Ema Votive Plaques
5. Various Shrines Within the Compound for Various Gods
1. An Excellent Location Within Walking Distance from Central Kobe
Ikuta Shrine is conveniently located just 10 minutes from Sannomiya Station on all lines making it a lively and convenient place. As you can see in the photo, the shopping district is right down the road. Thinking about it from a historical perspective, people would gather and put down roots around the shrine, which is exactly how the district came to be.
There are torii gates at the shrine entrance. Pass under the second torii gate, then the vermilion-lacquered torii gate.
To the right of the vermilion gate, there is a place to wash your hands and purify your body known as the chozu-ya. There is an English sign explaining what to do, so be sure to try it out for yourself.
Pass through the torii gates and you will come to the tower gate. You can purchase omikuji (fortune paper slips) and protective charms from the booths on the left and right.
Unless you intend to offer a special prayer, typically there is no admission fee for entering the shrine. Worshipers can communicate their thankful thoughts and wishes by throwing a coin into the offertory chest located in front of the main shrine building.
Once you arrive at the splendid main shrine building, flanked by komainu, pay your respects according to tradition and try softly murmuring your prayers in your mind.
2. Ikuta Forest: A Healing Spot Overflowing with Nature
There is a forest located in the back of the shrine compound, with so much greenery you wouldn’t believe it was in the heart of the city. With many trees that are several hundred years old, this forest is a very popular healing spot.
There is a small shrine dedicated to the Empress Jingu, who appears in Japanese legends, as well as gazebos where you can take a break. Listen to the chirping of birds and rustling of leaves as you spend some time relaxing in the forest.
3. Unusual “Water Fortunes”
Within Ikuta Forest, there is a flowing stream where you can get your marriage fortune told through the water.
Please buy a fortune paper at the shrine office before you enter the main shrine area. One fortune paper slip is 300 yen.
Moisten the paper and your fortune will appear, split into different categories like your lucky color, location, place, and more. The fortunes are only available in Japanese, but are quite unique, so why not try one out?
4. Foreign-Language Omikuji, Photogenic Charms, and Ema Votive Plaques
While water fortunes are only available in Japanese, you can find English, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), and Korean fortunes at the tower gate for 300 yen apiece.
You can buy protective charms at the shrine for 500 yen. This is a charm for improved fortunes. It’s quite cute with its heart shape and pastel-colored traditional Japanese design. There are various other charms that are supposed to help with improved finances, better health, higher grades, and other such benefits.
An ema is a wooden board for writing wishes on, which you then dedicate to the gods. There are also heart-shaped ema that are very Cupid-esque. One ema is 500 yen.
5. Various Shrines Within the Compound for Various Gods
There are 14 subordinate shrines in the Ikuta Shrine compound, separate from the main shrine. Each of them venerates a different god.
Matsuo Shrine, for the God of Sake-Making
The above photo is of Matsuo Shrine, located on the right side of the second torii gate after you pass under it. It is said to venerate the god of sake-making and agriculture, which is very important to Kobe, home to the sake brewers of Nada Gogo.
Daikai Shrine, for Maritime Safety
Daikai Shrine, which venerates Sarutahiko-no-Mikoto, god of maritime transportation and traffic safety, is on the left side of the stone torii gate. As you would expect from the port city of Kobe, many people in the seafaring trade come here to pray for safe voyages.
Inari Shrine, A Super Popular Photo Spot
An increasingly popular place to take pictures is in the northeast corner of the compound, Inari Shrine. Also called O-Inari-san, this shrine’s god is rooted in the everyday lives of Japanese people. Originally also the god of agriculture and marriage, it is currently worshiped as the god of thriving businesses.
The fox which accompanies Inari Shrine is said to be a divine envoy of Inari.
The continuous rows of lacquered torii gates were donated in 2016. It is thought that by passing through the torii gates, your wishes will get through to the gods, as well.
Ikuta Shrine - A Spot Brimming with Power
Ikuta Shrine is a convenient walk away from the train station, while also being in touch with nature and Japanese traditions. If you have the chance to come to Kobe, drop by the shrine to utter a quiet prayer. It will surely make for a wonderful memory of your trip.
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In cooperation with Ikuta Shrine
日本文化、特に絵画や工芸品が好き。福岡、京都、大阪、ベルギー、アメリカを経て現在は神戸在住。座右の銘は「住めば都」。
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