Itsukushima Jinja (嚴島神社)

Itsukushima Jinja

Itsukushima Jinja (嚴島神社), also referred to as Shinmachi Itsukushima Jinja (新町嚴島神社), is a Shinto shrine located near the Chigasaki Station in Kanagawa Prefecture. Shinmachi (新町) was the old district name for the area surrounding Chigasaki Station, which today corresponds to the Shineicho, Motomachi, Tomoe, and Saiwaicho districts. The shrine enshrines the kami (deities) Ichikishimahime-no-Mikoto (市杵島姫命), Tagorihime-no-Mikoto (田心姫命), and Tagitsuhime-no-Mikoto (湍津姫命), collectively referred to as Itsukushima Okami (嚴島大神) or the Three Female Deities of Munakata (宗像三柱の神).

The founding date of the shrine is unclear. It originally stood in where it is now 7 Shineicho, but moved in front of the North Exit of Chigasaki Station in the early Showa period (1926-1989).* After passing the ticket gate was a large torii (shrine gate) and a pond. The shrine used to stand on the island in the center of the pond. In 1948, due to the construction for expanding the space in front of the station, the shrine was moved to its current location.

The current haiden (worship hall) was built in 1973 using reinforced concrete, and the honden (main hall) was constructed in 1934.

It is currently a kenmu-sha (jointly administered shrine) of Dairokuten Jinja.

Ishigami Benten-sha (石神弁天社)

Ishigami Benten-sha

When standing in front of the haiden of Itsukushima Jinja, to the right is the subordinate shrine of Ishigami Benten-sha (石神弁天社). The shrine originally stood where it is now Chigasaki Station, but was moved out when the construction of the station started during the mid-Meiji period and was relocated frequently. The Mizusawa Family looked after the shrine from the early days of the Showa period. In 1985, the old name of the area "Ishigami" (石神) was added to the shrine name and the shrine relocated to its current location to commemorate the 60th reign of Emperor Showa and the reconstruction of Chigasaki Station to an over-track station.

Ishigami Benzaiten (石神弁財天)

Ishigami Benzaiten

Myoon Benzaiten (妙音弁財天)

Myoon Benzaiten

This statue of Myoon Benzaiten was placed in the middle of the octagonal pond in 1981. Not much is known about the statue before 1981. Some accounts suggest it was donated to Itsukushima Jinja from Enoshima Shrine.

* According to the stone tablet in front of the Myoon Benzaiten, Itsukushima Jinja was originally founded in the former Nishi Ishigami district (now the Shineicho district) as a Benten-sha (a shrine enshrining Benten or Benzaiten) and moved to the front of Chigasaki Station in 1918.

Reference:

• 新町嚴島神社. (n.d.). 新町 嚴島神社. 新町 嚴島神社. https://itsukushima-c.jp/