Suwataisya kamisya maemiya

Among the four Suwa Taisha shrines, Chino City's Miyagawa is the southernmost.
It is located about a 10-minute walk north to Kamisha Honmiya. During the Onbashira Festival held in April, a procession is drawn from Honmiya to Maemiya.
Kamisha Maemiya is considered the origin of the faith in Suwa Myojin.
Originally, Suwa Taisha enshrined the Mishakuji deity, a spirit descending into trees and stones, with the highest-ranking priest called Ohori.
The Ohori of Kamisha, known as the Suwa clan, were considered descendants of the deity, while the Ohori of Shimosha, known as the Kaneko clan, were considered descendants of the imperial family.

During the late Heian period, as the Suwa and Kaneko clans acquired military power and became samurai, the enshrined deities were changed from Mishakuji to Takeminakata no Mikoto for Kamisha and Yasakatome no Mikoto for Shimosha.
Later, the Kaneko clan of Shimosha perished during the Sengoku period, while the Suwa clan of Kamisha lost power due to the invasion by the Takeda clan, but continued as the rulers of Takashima Domain until the Meiji Restoration.
Since Kamisha originally had no sacred body, a young Ohori was worshipped as a living deity and could not leave Suwa during their tenure.

The first shrine seen at Maemiya is the Wakamiya Shrine, said to enshrine the child deity of Takeminakata no Mikoto.

The Naigyosho hall, built opposite the Jikkenro, enshrined the sacred treasures believed to house the spirits of Suwa Myojin.
During rituals, the doors of the Naigyosho were opened, and the Ohori conducted the ceremonies.
Originally constructed in 1585, the oldest structure in Kamisha was rebuilt in 1932.

Behind the Naigyosho is the Omuro Shrine. Until the medieval period, semi-underground earthen chambers were constructed in the Suwa region.
The Ohori and priests secluded themselves in these chambers, spending the winter with the Mishakuji deity.
Known as "Anasu Hajime," rituals continued from December 22 to mid-March, but these practices ceased after the medieval period, and only the ruins remain today.

A slope continues from the Jikkenro, leading to the worship hall about 50 meters up the approach.
The gabled hall, surrounded by four sacred pillars and trees, was constructed in 1932 using materials from Ise Jingu.
Maemiya is believed to mean "the shrine that existed before Honmiya," with a burial mound said to be located behind the worship hall.

The main hall behind the worship hall.
Unlike the nagare-zukuri style commonly seen in Suwa shrines, it is a gabled structure with four bays along the width and three bays along the depth, featuring katsuogi beams on the roof.

A sacred water source known as "Suigan" flows beside the worship hall.
This water has been revered as sacred since ancient times.
Records indicate that during the medieval period, a purification hut was set up by the river for cleansing the body and mind before important rituals.