Okuni Shrine (小国神社）is on of the four major Shinto Shrines in Shizuoka Prefecture although its locatin is not that practical.

The first of a few torri gates!

If you are not motorized one way to access and make it a worthwhile trip is to board the Tenhama/ Tenryuu Hamanako Railway Line/天浜線 and get down a t small station called Tootoumi Ichinomiya/遠江一宮 and take a free limousine to the Shrine!
Bear in mind there are only few during the day so plan your trip t start early in the day!

It is located in the mountains all with a deep forest and river!

The lane leading to it is lined up with beautiful tall cedar trees!

The large roofed hand-washing stone basin!

Better come on a weekday as weekends can be crowded!

One can discover smaller shrines along the entry lane and all arund the main shrine!

This board depicts the legend of a rabbit admonished by a deity!

Another smaller shrine!

Reaching the last torii gate!

Now, these are very interesting vestiges of an old dead sacred tree!

It might be dead but its history is preserved and people venerate it in a very unusual way!

People insert one-yen coins offerings in its bark or rice straw garand!

The shrine “offices” where worshipers can buy souvenirs or talismans or consult their fortune!

This side building is actually a Noh theater stage!

A peek at the stage!

The main shrine or “haiden”!

One of the big stone lanterns!

A giant sacred hammer!

The rice straw garland and the many prayer bell ropes!

A pinion with the Emperor’s crest!

An older shrine beside the main Hall!

Sake barrel from Hana No Mai Brewery in Hamamatsu City!

Sake barrels from Senjyu Brewery in Iwata City!

The torii gate to one of the many side entrances!

You will discover some interesting promenades through the surrounding forest!

Complete with traditional bridges!]

Very old cedar trees!

Beautiful bridge over a pond to another small shrine!

Good-bye Okuni 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

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City