Okuni Shrine

photo by Kenchan3229 · CC BY-SA 3.0

First shrine of ancient Tōtōmi: one of its January rites is national heritage.

Okuni Shrine (小國神社) is the ichinomiya (the first-ranked shrine) of the ancient province of Tōtōmi, venerated as the guardian deity of the region since ancient times, Tokugawa Ieyasu included. Founded, according to tradition, about 1,470 years ago, every 3 January it hosts the Taagura ritual, an Important Intangible Cultural Property, and in April the Jūnidan Bugaku ritual dance, an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

First-ranked shrine of the ancient province of Tōtōmi, among the cedars and cypresses of Mori, outside Hamamatsu. The approach avenue is long and completely covered by the trees. People go there on New Year's Day, for good-fortune purification rites and in autumn for the red maples, when the leaf festival is held and the woods are illuminated.

ℹ️ Grounds always open and free entry, with plenty of parking. It is outside Hamamatsu and public transport is scarce: from Tōtōmi-Ichinomiya Station on the Tenryū-Hamanako Railway it is 30–45 minutes on foot, with a free shuttle only on Sundays and public holidays; by car, seven minutes from the Enshū-Morimachi interchange on the Shin-Tōmei. At New Year and in the red-maple season there are queues on the road. At the entrance is the Kotomachi Yokochō market, with tea and refreshments.

🚉 小國神社 · in front of the station

Gabriel DropOut

The four of them come here for the first shrine visit of the year, in the ninth episode: the torii in front of the prayer hall, the amulet stall on the left and the dance pavilion on the right are all in their places. To recreate the shot you need to stand more or less level with the offertory box. The scene comes from the manga, chapter 21 of the third volume.

photo by Kenchan3229 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Gabriel DropOut — Ukami · KADOKAWA / ASCII Media Works · anime Doga Kobo (2017)

All the places from Gabriel DropOut →

Sources: ameblo.jp · riyot.hatenablog.com · ameblo.jp · seichijunrei-susume.com · okunijinja.or.jp · ja.wikipedia.org · mlit.go.jp

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