Ashiinaba Shrine

Overview

Ashiinaba Shrine stands in Kamiita, Itano District, Tokushima Prefecture. Located in what was once Itano District of Awa Province, it is known as a venerable shrine counted among the Shikinaisha, the official shrines recorded in ancient registers. Its hall is built in the traditional nagare-zukuri style, and its quiet setting in a rural village conveys a sense of deep history.

Highlights

• ●The standing of an ancient shrine among the Shikinaisha of Awa Province
• ●A main hall built in the traditional nagare-zukuri style
• ●A quiet precinct in harmony with Kamiita's rural landscape
• ●Faith tied to the name Inaba and prayers for the rice harvest

History

Ashiinaba Shrine is regarded as belonging to the lineage of Shikinaisha listed in the Engishiki Jinmyocho of the Heian period, attesting to its standing as an ancient shrine of Awa Province. The name Inaba suggests a connection to prayers for rice cultivation and abundant harvests. For details on its enshrined deities and founding, checking the on-site history plaque or Kamiita's official information is recommended.

Map

34.1303, 134.4125 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Follow the village lanes of Kamiita to Ashiinaba Shrine
2. 2Worship at the nagare-zukuri main hall and sense its ancient rank
3. 3Read the history plaque in the precinct and reflect on the past
4. 4Stroll leisurely through the farmland on the Yoshino River's north bank

Did you know?

💡 A Shikinaisha is a shrine of rank recorded in the Engishiki Jinmyocho of the Heian period, evidence that it was already esteemed by the imperial court. Nagare-zukuri is the most widespread style of main-hall architecture in Japanese shrines, marked by a roof that sweeps gracefully forward.

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