Ikuta Shrine ［生田神社］

Ikuta Shrine Ikuta Shrine

The Ikuta Shrine is a shrine with a long and distinguished history whose name appears in Nihon Shoki ("The Chronicles of Japan, "a book of classical Japanese history written during the Nara era in 720 A.D.) and Makura no Soshi ("The Pillow Book," a book written during the Heian era).

This shrine is located in Sannomiya, a downtown area representing Kobe. At the center of its premise stands a vermillion-lacquered shrine pavilion with the Ikuta Woods spreading to its north. It is also a famous site for plum and Japanese clover trees associated with warriors of the late Heian era.

In the past, the entire area of Kobe City's Chuo Ward belonged to this shrine. Ikuta Shrine honors Wakahirume, a young goddess of the Sun. It is well known as a shrine for matchmaking and longevity, continually visited by many people not only for New Year's visits but throughout the year.

Additionally, this shrine experienced a number of disasters such as flooding, war, and the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake that hit the city in 1995 but was restored to its former state each time. For this reason, it is also honored as a shrine where the "resurrecting god" resides. Thus in recent years, many people also visit for purpose of ridding bad luck.