Dedicated to the guardian deity against evil and the birthplace of mitarashi dango.
 

The shrine was constructed over a well, so it is also called the "Inoue" Shrine, literally 'the shrine over the well' in Japanese. The shrine has many followers who believe it provides protection against a variety of disasters.
There is a pond in front of the shrine, the Mitarashi Pond, and the Mitarashi River to the south. On the Day of the Ox (18 days before the first day of autumn), the Mitarashi Pond becomes the stage for the Ashitsuke Ritual (foot bathing ritual) and the Mitarashi Matsuri. Tradition has it that if you bathe your feet in the pond you can avoid disease and disasters everyday. Several tens of thousand visitors come to the shrine during the Festival season.
In addition, a Summer Ritual is held here on the night before the first day of autumn. Green bamboo sticks are placed in the Mitarashi Pond along with a bamboo arrow in the center, and human-shaped paper dolls, talismans to ward off evil, are released on top of the water. At the same time, naked men jump into the water and fight to gather the sticks. The event is based on a story that states that Tamayorihime-no-mikoto, the deity of good family lines and child rearing enshrined at the Shimogamo Shrine, was swimming in the Mitarashi River when an arrow floated downstream. After taking the arrow home, tradition has it that she was blessed with a child, the deity known as Kamowakeikazuchi-no-mikoto. This ritual is also called the "taking the arrow ritual" and is a very popular summer event. Meanwhile, the shape of a mitarashi dango (Japanese dumplings made of rice powder) is like that of a bubble gushing out of the water in a pond, and it is said that the Mitarashi Pond is the source of this tradition.

   
Mitarashi Shrine
Mitarashi Shrine
Mitarashi River
Mitarashi River
Mitarashi Festival   The shape of the kamomitarashi dango (dumplings) expresses the human body   The origin of the kamomitarashi dango (dumplings)
Mitarashi Festival   The shape of the kamomitarashi dango (dumplings) expresses the human body  

The origin of the kamomitarashi dango (dumplings)

 
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