Kumano Jinja (熊野神社)

Kumano Jinja

Bell tower

Located near National Route 1 in a residential part of the Kowada area in Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine called Kumano Jinja (熊野神社). It enshrines the kami (deities) Kumano Kusubi no Mikoto (熊野久須毘命), Kumano Fusumi no Mikoto (熊野夫須美命), Hayatama no Mikoto (速玉男命), and Ietsumiko no Mikoto (家津御子命), collectively referred to as Kumano Okami (熊野大神).

Although the exact date of its founding is unknown, an old ridge tag indicates that the shrine was rebuilt in Genroku 1 (1688), showing that it already existed by that time. It also describes the shrine as the chinju (guardian shrine) of Kowada Village, which once occupied the southeastern part of present-day Chigasaki.

Subordinate Shrines

Uba Jinja (姥母神社)

Uba Jinja (姥母神社) enshrines Uba no Mikoto (姥母命), a kami associated with safe childbirth and healing from illness.

Toyouke Inari Jinja (豊受稲荷社)

Toyouke Inari Jinja (豊受稲荷社) enshrines Toyoukehime no Mikoto (豊受姫命), a kami of food and grain often identified as Inari Okami (稲荷大神).

Itsukushima Jinja (厳島神社)

Itsukushima Jinja (厳島神社), which stands next to the bell tower, enshrines the kami Ichikishimahime no Mikoto (市杵島姫命).

Behind Itsukushima Jinja is a small stone shrine.

Dosojin (道祖神)

On the west side of the shrine grounds are stone monuments of Dosojin (道祖神).