Fujisawa Suwa Jinja (藤澤 諏訪神社)

Fujisawa Suwa Jinja (藤澤 諏訪神社)

Fujisawa Suwa Jinja (藤澤 諏訪神社) is a Shinto shrine in the Daigiri District of Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, located next to Shojoko-ji Temple (清浄光寺), a Buddhist temple.  The kami (deities) enshrined are Takeninakata-no-Mikoto (建御名方富命) and Yasakatome-no-Mikoto (八坂刀売命).

Sando (shrine pathway)

The shrine traces its origins to August 23, 1289, when Donkai, the fourth Yugyo Shonin (遊行上人)—a title given to the head of the Ji-shu (時宗) school of Pure Land Buddhism—enshrined the kami of Suwa Taisha within the grounds of Shojoko-ji Temple as its guardian deity after returning from a pilgrimage to Suwa in Shinano Province (modern-day Nagano Prefecture).

Over time, the shrine's spiritual significance grew, and in 1699, it was designated as the guardian shrine of all Fujisawa.  A new shrine was built on the current mountain site.

Originally, the shrine was built on a lower level, facing the road.  However, it was said that travelers on horseback would invariably fall when passing in front of the shrine.  To remedy this, the shrine was relocated to a higher elevation and reoriented to face south.

Subordinate Shrines

Taishi-do (太子堂)

Taishi-do (太子堂)

Taishi-do (太子堂) enshrines Prince Shotoku (聖徳太子), also known as Umayado no Miko (厩戸皇子).

Soreishin (祖霊神)

Soreishin (祖霊神)

Soreishin (祖霊神) enshrines the 160 spirits of mainly soldiers from among the parishioners of Fujisawa Suwa Jinja who were drafted and served in the First Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese War, and World War II.

Daikokuten-sha (大黒天社)

Daikokuten-sha (大黒天社)

Daikokuten-sha (大黒天社) enshrines the kami Okuninushi-no-Mikoku (大国主命), also known as Daikoku-sama (大黒さま), the father of Takeninakata-no-Mikoto.

Dosojin (道祖神)

Dosojin (道祖神)

This dosojin (道祖神) was originally the guardian deity of Nakakukbo-cho (仲久保町).  It enshrines the kami Yachimatahiko (八衢比古) and Yachimatahime (八衢比賣命).