草尾神明社
Kusao Nishi, Rikugo, Ikusaka Village
Located within a village on the opposite bank of National Route 19, this Shinmei Shrine stands among many other Shinmei shrines and Miyamoto shrines, such as the Hiki Shrine across the river and the Shinmei Shrine in Omi Village.
At the entrance stands a stone Shinmei torii gate with a plaque inscribed with "Shinmei Shrine." In front, there is a kagura hall.
The kagura hall is a simple hip-and-gable structure without walls, consisting of only columns and a roof.
Behind it lies the worship hall.
Next to the worship hall, there are seven shrine buildings housed within a protective structure.
Among them, there is one small stone shrine beside a small wooden gabled structure.
On the opposite side, there is a small flow-style shrine about 1 meter wide.
Behind the worship hall, two main shrines are enclosed by a sacred fence.
One is a Shinmei-style shrine with ridge-supporting pillars, and the other is a flow-style Mishima Shrine.
The Shinmei Shrine is simple and unadorned, without carvings or decorations.
The Mishima Shrine features carvings of deer and maple leaves on its beams and gable decorations, and lions on its wooden brackets.
The dance hall, facing the worship hall, was originally the site of Rikugo Kusao School.
Established as a school in the 7th year of the Meiji era, it served as an educational facility for 35 years until 1909, when a new school building was constructed.
| Location | Kusao Nishi, Rikugo, Ikusaka Village |
|---|---|
| Website | None |
| Deities | Amaterasu Omikami, Oyama Tsumi no Mikoto |
| Main Shrine | Village-designated cultural property Built in 1774 (Bunkyū 3) |
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| Architectural Style | One-bay Shinmei-zukuri, copper roof |
| Mishima Shrine | Village-designated cultural property Late Edo period |
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| Architectural Style | One-bay nagare-zukuri, copper roof |