Finding a shrine can be sometimes confusing for a new visitor to Japan!

The other day I took the bus of the Ikumi Line/Ikumisen/伊久身線 from Shimada Station North exit bus stop.
I got down at a stop called Kanza Miya Iriguchi/神座宮入口, meaning “Entry/Entrance/Iriguchi” to Kanza Shrine/Kanza Miya”.
The problem is that Jinjya/神社 and Miya/宮 (can also be pronounced “Gu”!) both mean “shrine”!
Incidentally as the line is heavily subsidized by the City it is very cheap, but there is only one bus every hour!

To make matters a bit more complicated the whole shrine is dedicated to the River Ooi, hence the inclusion of its name, whereas the main shrine inside is only called Ooi Shrine!

A very rural but solemn atmosphere in the cool tree shades by a scorching hot day!

The hand-washing stone basin under its own roof!

A very old “monument” probably predating everything around!

The main shrine!

Venerable trees all around!

The guard lion seems a bit different!

It is different indeed!

Not only the paint but the style make it unusual!

The big stone lanterns have been apparently added not so long ago!

We can’t forget the other lion guard!

An impressive roar!

The main shrine!

Lion guards on the roof of a Shinto shrine are unusual!

The money offerings wooden box!

The rice straw garland!

The old plaque clearly states “Ooi Jinja/大井神社/Ooi River shrine”!

Always look behind a shrine and you might find smaller and far older ones!

Such small shrines are very probably more authentic as they were erected by small farming communities!

In Kyoto and large cities they would have all but disappeared, thus erasing real history!

These foxes confirm this is an “inari/稲荷” shrine to help rice crops!

Walking around the other side of the main shrine!

Here is another one!

Poor little thing!

Good-bye, kanza Ooi Shrine!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents