Takachiho Shrine 高千穂神社

Official explanation

Takachiho Shrine is one of the most important shrines in the area, as it serves as the representative shrine of all eighty-eight shrines in the eighteen neighborhoods of the Takachiho area. It is said to date back over 1,900 years.

The first three mythological generations of Japan’s imperial line are honored at Takachiho Shrine. This includes the kami deity Ninigi no Mikoto, the first ruler of the earth and grandson of the sun kami deity Amaterasu. The shrine reveres Mikeiri no Mikoto, a direct descendant of Ninigi and an older brother of Japan’s first emperor. Mikeiri is considered locally to be the first governor of Takachiho. In local legend, he saved the inhabitants of the area by defeating the fearsome kami deity Kihachi who terrorized them. Mikeiri has thus long been thought to ward off misfortune.

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Takachiho Shrine: Overview

Although details of its founding remain unknown, Takachiho Shrine is referred to in Japan’s “six national histories” (rikkokushi) from the Heian period (794–1185) as the highest-ranked Shinto shrine in Hyuga Province, the ancient name for present-day Miyazaki, the prefecture where Takachiho is located. Today it serves as the parent shrine of 88 other shrines in 18 villages in the area. The shrine’s main sanctuary and its pair of komainu guardian figures have been designated National Important Cultural Properties, while various sites in and around the shrine, both natural and architectural, are believed to be directly related to Japan’s creation myth and the tales of its gods and goddesses. Twenty-three deities are worshipped within and around the grounds, 16 of them in the main sanctuary (honden) and seven at nearby Aratate Shrine. These divinities are worshipped as guardians of agriculture, thought to assure bountiful harvests and protection against evil spirits. It is said that Takachiho Shrine has also served as a protector of the yokagura dance tradition for more than 800 years. Kagura Hall, the venue for regular performances of the dances, is located within the shrine grounds. The shrine’s simple architecture is in harmony with the towering trees found throughout the shrine grounds. Among these sacred trees are two, the 800-year old Chichibu Cedar and the Meoto Sugi (Husband and Wife Cedars) pair.

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.