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Overview
Azai Shrine is a Shinto shrine in the Azai district of Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture. Standing on land that was once Nakashima District of Owari Province, it is known as a Shikinaisha, a shrine listed in the Engishiki register of officially recognized shrines from the Heian period. With a history tied to the very place-name of the area, it stands quietly as a local guardian deity in the watery plains formed by the Kiso River on the Nobi Plain.
Highlights
- ●The ancient standing of a Shikinaisha of Owari Province recorded in the Engishiki register
- ●A historic site corresponding to the former Azai in Nakashima District of Owari Province
- ●Its character as a local guardian deity, its name bound to the land itself
- ●The peaceful precinct set amid the watery farmland of the Nobi Plain
History
Azai Shrine is counted among the Shikinaisha of Owari Province listed in the Engishiki Jinmyocho, the register of shrines compiled in the Heian period, marking it as a shrine long recognized by the court and the region. Its site corresponds to the former Azai in Nakashima District of Owari Province, and its name is closely bound to the local place-name of Azai. Though it has watched over the life of the land for many centuries, please refer to the shrine's official information for its detailed history and enshrined deities.
Access
The shrine stands in the Azai district of Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture, in an area spreading north of the city center. It is convenient to reach by bus or car from Ichinomiya Station on the Meitetsu and JR lines. The surroundings are a calm mix of homes and farmland; please check public transport connections and parking in advance for a smooth visit.
Best season
The solemn atmosphere befitting a Shikinaisha can be felt throughout the year, while the New Year visit season and the time of the annual festival draw many local worshippers. To pair the visit with the peaceful rural scenery of the Nobi Plain, autumn when the rice ripens or early summer when the greenery shines make for especially pleasant times.
Map
35.3335, 136.8241 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Head from Ichinomiya Station to the Azai district and begin by passing through the torii of Azai Shrine to pay respects
- 2Walk the quiet grounds while reflecting on its heritage as a Shikinaisha
- 3Stroll the gentle rural landscape of the Nobi Plain that spreads around the shrine
- 4Return to central Ichinomiya to enjoy the streets and local flavors of a city that flourished in textiles
Did you know?
💡 The name Azai in Azai Shrine overlaps with the place-name of Azai in Ichinomiya, where it stands. This echo between the name of the shrine and the name of the land is one clue to how long a deity has been enshrined in this place, reaching back to ancient times.
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