Hotaka Shrine

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Hotaka Shrine
Religion
Affiliation	Shinto
Deity	all the deities of its province, Utsushihikanasaku [ja], Watatsumi
Type	Sōja shrine
Glossary of Shinto

Hotaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Hotaka, Azumino, Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} It is one of the three main shrines in Shinano Province. The Engishiki Jinmyocho describes it as a Myojin Taisha and it is now a Beppyo shrine.

It is a Sōja shrine. It enshrines all the kami of the shrines in Shinano Province. Whenever a new governor of Shinano Province was appointed he would be sent to the shrine to worship all the gods of the province.^[6]

Ichinomiya and Soja are not the same thing but were sometimes combined.^[7] In this case the Suwa-taisha is the Province's Ichinomiya.^{[8][9][10][11]}

Many people pray here before hiking in the Japanese Alps.^[1] It is located near Mount Hotakadake, a major Japanese mountain.^[12]

The shrine is near Hotaka Station, and located in a Chinju no Mori or sacred forest full of Japanese cedar and pine trees.^[1][13]

Two main gods are important here. The sea god Watatsumi, and his son, Hotakami no Mikoto (Utsushihikanasaku [ja]) the tutelary deity of the Azumi people.^[1][13][14] and their ancestor.^[15] Hotakami no Mikoto is said to have descended to earth on the nearby Mount Hotakadake.^[16]

The shrine was founded by Azumi people who migrated from Kyushu.^[1][13] The migrants searched extensively across Japan until they eventually found the Azumino valley and settled there, giving up their nautical lifestyle for an agricultural one.^[1][13] This is why the shrine worships the sea gods Watatsumi and Hotakami [ja] despite being inland.^[1][13] It is an agriculturally focused shrine.^[1]

In 927 it was listed as a Myojin Taisha of the Engishiki Jinmyocho.^[17] It was well known across Japan in the tenth century.^[1]

The shrine has several buildings:

• Kaguraden: This is used for ceremonies.^[1]
• Haiden: People pray and offer rituals here.^[1]
• Honden: These are three small buildings for gods. The central one is for Hotakami no Mikoto.^[1]

The buildings are rebuilt every twenty years in the process of Sengu. This keeps old building methods alive.^[1]

There is also a museum of local culture on the premises.^[1]

At the Hotaka Shrine in Azumino City, there is an annual festival at which people express their gratitude for the gift of water. In the city, there is a traditional spot in which all three rivers (Azusa, Karasu and Nakabusa), as well as the water from the melted snow of Kamikochi's mountains, meet. Kamikochi mountain holds a great significance to the Azumi people as the water which flowed down this mountain was once used to irrigate their crops.^[18] Using this water, the people of Japan perform the rituals known as "Omizu-tori" (taking water) and "Omizu-gaeshi" (returning water), whereby the water is deemed to rightfully return to the Myojin Pond.^[18] During this celebration, the Azumi People commemorate their direct connection to water and their gratitude for it as it has always assisted them – both in their history as skilful seafarers and crop farmers.^[19]

The Myojin Pond in Kamikochi, Japan attracts both traditional descendants of the Azumi people, as well as tourists. It has a clear, mirror-like reflection, and is classified as one of the most revered places to worship the deities of the Azumi people.^[20]

Today, the Myojin Pond accommodates many visitors as the water that lays within is a reminder of the culture, tradition, and history of the Azumi people.^[21]

The shrine has many branch shrines across the region.^[4] some include

• Okumiya Branch: It's near Myojin Pond in Kamikochi. Here, they remember the Azumi clan's sea roots.^[1]
• Minemiya Branch: It's on top of Mt. Oku-Hotaka. It's for Wadatsumi no Mikoto. It's a place for hikers to pray.^[1]

Every year, there is a big festival. The festival celebrates local gods and the sea.^[1]

The Shrine has an Ofune Matsuri [ja], or ship festival every September.^[1][22]

Obisha Matsuri is held every March.^[1][23] Priests shoot arrows at targets. It is said if they accurately hit the target there will be a good harvest.^[23] Visitors take the arrows home with them for good luck.^[23]

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  Hotaka Shrine General View
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  Scenic View of Hotaka Shrine
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  View of ther Honden through Torii
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  Hotaka Shrine and Surroundings
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  Hotaka Shrine Serene View
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  Hotaka Shrine and Its Environment
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  Hotaka Shrine Close-up
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  Hotaka Shrine Chozusha (Purification Trough)
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  Hotaka Shrine Haiden (Worship Hall) View
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  Another Angle of Hotaka Shrine Haiden
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  Front View of Hotaka Shrine Haiden
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  Hotaka Shrine Honden (Main Hall)
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  Hotaka Shrine Hotaka-maru (Sacred Ship)
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  Close-up of Hotaka Shrine's Hotaka-maru
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  Hotaka Shrine Kaguraden (Dance Hall) View
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  Ofune (sacred boats)
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  Torii
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  Sacred Bridge
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  Sacred Bridge
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  Hotaka Shrine Main Torii Gate
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  Torii
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  Torii
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  Torii
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  Sacred horse [ja] statue
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• Kanpei-taisha

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hotaka jinja.

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