Nakama Shrine 中間神社

Official explanation

No records remain that tell when Nakama Shrine was founded, although it is known that the structure was rebuilt in 1892 and again in 1961. The shrine’s atmospheric approach of 43 steps is constructed of randomly shaped stones still in their natural state. A small rock shrine on the grounds that is dedicated to the mountain kami beyond is dated 1827. In autumn, the grounds are a likely place to see Great Orange-tip butterflies. They come to feed on the flowering three-leaved caper trees and are believed by some islanders to be messengers of happiness. The deities honored at this main sanctuary of the township are Kukunochi, the kami of trees; Kayanohime, the kami of grasses; and Toyouke Omikami, the tutelary deity of food. The destination of the annual takemairi pilgrimage is Mt. Shichigo, whose striking pyramidal shape jutting from the ridge just beyond the township is a Nakama landmark.

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Read the full explanation

To book a village tour in Nakama, visit yakushima.jp online or the Yakushima Environmental and Cultural Village Center in person at:

823-1 Miyanoura

Yakushima-cho, Kumage-gun

Kagoshima-ken 891-4205

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.