諏訪神社
Arisaka, Furumachi, Nagawa Town, Chiisagata District
Surrounded by dense green vegetation, the Suwa Shrine in Arisaka, Nagawa Town, is known for its lion dance, which is designated as a cultural property of the town.
The origin and inception of the lion dance, which is performed during the autumn festival, are unknown, but it is said that placing sakaki (sacred Shinto tree) on all four sides and performing the lion dance within that area deifies the lion, giving it a unique culture distinct from other regional lion dances.
The large torii gate at the entrance of the shrine features intricate carvings by Yasukichi Takeuchi of the Tachikawa school.
The worship hall is an irimoya-zukuri style building with its gable end facing the entrance.
Adjacent to it are auxiliary shrines and a Chūkonsha (a shrine dedicated to the spirits of the war dead).
The main hall is not covered and is surrounded by a sacred fence.
The main hall was built by Bunjirō Midorikawa, a carpenter from Nagawa Town who apprenticed with the Tachikawa school.
It is a one-bay nagare-zukuri style structure with detailed carvings on the front doors, the pillars supporting the main building, and the walls.
While not large, it has a pleasant atmosphere and is worth seeing.
| Location | Arisaka, Furumachi, Nagawa Town, Chiisagata District |
|---|---|
| Website | None |
| Deity | Take Minakata no Mikoto |
| Main Hall | Town designated cultural property Kansei 9 (1797) |
|---|---|
| Carpenter | Bunjirō Midorikawa |
| Architectural Style | One-bay nagare-zukuri, iron sheet roofing |