Homan Shrine

The grounds of Homan Shrine are surprisingly spacious. The path to the shrine is also very solemn and has a wonderful atmosphere, and the shrine itself is a historic building. If you just take a quick look, you may finish your stroll in about 10 minutes, but for those who love history, we recommend taking about 30 minutes to stroll through the grounds of Homan Shrine! You can feel the fusion of the unique atmosphere of the southern islands and Shinto culture with your own skin.

Houman Shrine enshrines the god of abundant harvests and is a shrine that is very familiar with red rice instead of white rice. Tanegashima Akamai Kan is a place where you can learn about the impact that red rice has had on Tanegashima. We would like you to visit not only Houman Shrine, but also Tanegashima Akamai Kan at the same time to experience the charm of red rice. By the way, the ice cream made with red rice sold at Tanegashima Akamai Kan is very delicious!

Behind Hozen Shrine, there is a large pond called Hozen Pond, which is about 1.2 kilometers in circumference. It is known for attracting wild birds in the winter, especially a large number of ducks, and has been used for duck hunting since ancient times. This traditional hunting is called "tsumugi net hunting," and it is said that there are only three places in Japan where this hunting is conducted, including Hozen Pond. The view from the nearby observation deck is also very beautiful.

In Tanegashima, "coral stones" have been used in places where gods reside, such as shrines, since ancient times. Coral stones are formed by the fossilization of coral, and at Homan Shrine, there is a coral wall made by stacking these coral stones. This is a rare stone wall in Japan, so when you visit Homan Shrine, be sure not to forget to see it. It's also fun to look for coral stones at other shrines and places in Tanegashima.

Every year in April, the "Rice Planting Festival" is held at Homan Shrine. (Please check the city or town's website for details as there may be an impact from the coronavirus pandemic.) First, prayers are offered for red rice seedlings and other crops in the rice field forest adjacent to the shrine, followed by the planting of the seedlings in the rice field by men. At the end of the festival, onigiri rice balls and other dishes made with red rice harvested the previous year are served. This is a ritual to pray for a good harvest and is highly valued by the local community, making it worth visiting at least once!