Kasuga Shrine

Kasuga Shrine in Tamba Sasayama is a shrine located in the heart of the Tamba Sasayama castle town, and is affectionately known as "Okasugasama" by the locals. The proper way to visit the shrine is to first bow in front of the red torii gate, then walk along the edge of the approach path without stepping in the center, and bow again in front of the small gate called "zuishinmon" before passing through it. After that, wash your hands and mouth at the temizuya (water basin) and head towards the main hall. In front of the main hall, bow lightly and quietly place your offering without throwing it in. Ring the bell to let the gods know you have come, bow twice, clap your hands twice, and then with your hands together, express gratitude for your daily life and make your vows. Finally, bow deeply and take a step back before bowing lightly again. This is the correct way to visit the shrine. Please refer to these instructions when you visit.

The Noh stage at Kasuga Shrine is not only excellent in terms of its size, design, stage equipment, and structure, but also has a high historical value due to its clear construction year, master builder, and painter. In 2003, it was designated as an important cultural property by the government. This Noh stage was donated by the 13th lord of the Sasayama domain, Tadanaga Aoyama, who was also known as a Noh enthusiast, in 1861, towards the end of the Edo period. At the time of its construction, it was said to be "the most splendid Noh stage west of Hakone." The pillars and frames are made of pine, the floor is made of hinoki cypress, and there are seven large Tamba pottery jars buried under the stage floor to enhance the acoustic effect of the footfalls on the stage and create a reverberation. Its perfection is said to be one of the finest among all Noh stages in the country.

At Kasuga Shrine's ema-den, over ten ema (votive horse tablets) are displayed, with two in particular being famous: the "Black God Horse Emas" donated by Tadanobu Matsudaira when he was transferred to Akashi, painted by Naonobu Kano, and the "Omori Hikoshichi Emas" donated by Shinobu Habei, a samurai of the Sasayama clan. Especially the "Black God Horse Emas" are drawn with splendid brushwork, and there is a legend that the horse escaped from the painting and ate up the beans in the fields of Kurooka. It is said that it was once covered with wire mesh. Both are now designated as cultural assets of the city and are worth a visit.

As there is no resident priest at Kasuga Shrine in Tamba Sasayama, on weekends and holidays, local residents in charge sell pre-written goshuin at the shrine office. When the office is closed, you can purchase them online by scanning the QR code on the posters displayed on the shrine grounds. The goshuin, along with an omikuji fortune, will be delivered by mail a few days later. However, please note that the QR code for online sales is not publicly available on the official website or elsewhere, and can only be accessed by visitors to the shrine. Don't forget to stop by the shrine office when you visit the site!

The autumn festival at Kasuga Shrine, the guardian shrine of the castle town of Sasayama, has a history of over 350 years and is considered one of the three major festivals in the Sasayama region. The festival features nine gorgeous hoko floats and four golden mikoshi portable shrines parading through the castle town of Sasayama, as well as eight taiko drum floats energetically weaving through the shrine grounds of Kasuga Shrine during both the evening and main festivals, making Sasayama a lively place to be. Influenced by Kyoto culture, this festival is considered to combine elegance and grandeur, and was designated as an intangible cultural asset of the city in 2017. The sight of the magnificent hoko floats, the lively cheers of the golden mikoshi and taiko drum floats, and the sounds of flutes and drums echoing throughout the area will make you feel the deepening of autumn even more.