吉備津彦神社
1043 Ichinomiya, Kita-ku, Okayama City
The Ichinomiya (highest ranked shrine) of Bizen Province, also known by the alternate name "Asahi no Miya."
The shrine is located northeast of Mount Kibi in Bizen Province, near the border with Bitchū Province, and to the northwest stands the Ichinomiya of Bitchū Province, Kibitsu Shrine.
Originally, Anjin Shrine in Okayama City was revered as the Ichinomiya of Bizen Province, but during the Tengyō War of 939, Anjin Shrine lost its status after siding with the opposing forces, while Kibitsuhiko Shrine, which supported the imperial forces, became the new Ichinomiya.
The torii gate is a stone-made myōjin torii.
The approach, lined with ponds on both sides, leads to the kawara-buki (tile-roofed) shrine gate.
Further along, stone steps lead to the main shrine building.
From the main hall, the buildings continue with the corridor hall, suspended hall, ritual hall, worship hall, and grand shrine hall. The connected shrine buildings, with attached corridors, were said to have been completed in 1697, but they were destroyed by fire in the Showa period. Currently, only the main hall and the zuijin gate remain from that period.
The main hall, designated as a prefecturally important cultural property, is an unusually large nagare-zukuri style building with three ken (bays) along the front and two ken deep.
The roof is covered with cypress bark, and although the structure features chigi (forked finials), there are only two katsuogi (short horizontal logs) on each side.
Access to the area around the main hall is restricted, so there are no notable carvings visible, but the rare layout with three ken along the front and two ken deep stands out as unique.
Several auxiliary shrines, including a Tenjin Shrine and an Inari Shrine, stand on both sides of the main shrine building.
The Koyasu Shrine, located on the north side of the shrine grounds, with its red color and white walls, is designated as a municipally important cultural property. It is said to be older than the main hall of Kibitsuhiko Shrine.
The shrine was originally built in 1692 by order of the domain lord Ikeda Mitsumasa, who sought divine protection for his poor health.
The shrine building is a single-bay nagare-zukuri structure, and features elements of the Momoyama period style, such as frog-leg brackets and bulbous ornamental finials on the veranda posts.
| Location | 1043 Ichinomiya, Kita-ku, Okayama City |
|---|---|
| Website | http://www.kibitsuhiko.or.jp/ |
| Deity | Ōkibitsuhiko no Mikoto |
| Main Hall | Prefecturally Designated Important Cultural Property Genroku 10 (1697) |
|---|---|
| Architectural Style | 3-Ken Front x 2-Ken Deep Nagare-zukuri, Cypress Bark Roof |
| Deities | Izanagi no Mikoto, Izanami no Mikoto, Konohanasakuya-hime no Mikoto, Tamayorihime no Mikoto |
|---|---|
| Koyasu Shrine Main Hall | Municipally Designated Important Cultural Property Built in Kanbun 12 (1672) |
| Architectural Style | Single-Bay Nagare-zukuri, Copper Roof |