Samukawa Shrine 相模國一宮 寒川神社

Serene, protective, inclusive shrine

This shrine is enchanting for its natural surroundings, history, and air of mystery. In the Meiji era, Samukawa Shrine was designated a 2nd-rank significant shrine with imperial connections. The history of the shrine is shrouded in mystery, going back 1600 years, when deities were honoured here. Which kami? They've come to be called Samukawa Daimyojin. The shrine is serene and grand in scale, reminiscent of the structure of Meiji Jingu in Tokyo. The shrine conducts a ceremony called Happo Yoke, a protective rite. After your participation, you can access the elegant Kantakeyama Shinen, the garden within the shrine precinct. The shrine's website has an English language page revealing many services for all stages of life - everything from education to weddings to elder care. The shrine is a short walk from Miyayama Station on the Sagami line.