Ikama Shrine (伊河麻神社) in Inagawa, Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City is a very ancient one dating back to 675 but it was burnt down many a time and certainly had witnessed better days.
It is nonetheless worth visiting!

The entrance torii gate!

The hand-washing stone basin!

Imposing stone lantern!

intricate design for such a shrine feature!

A somewhat decrepit incinerator!

A very ancient tree indeed, but we’ll go back to it later!

A history lesson!

Two ancient small shrines whose torii gates have been restored!

A red torii gate!

The ancient shrine!

An orange torii gate!

Somewhat bigger than its neighbor!

A bit isolated small new stone lantern!

Proofs that the site was destroyed at times!

The main shrine!

The rice straw garland!

Guarding lions!

The crested curtain!

Crested money offerings box!

The interior!

Ceremonial flags!

Japanese sake offerings!

Festival drum!

Back to the front courtyard!

Prayer papers!

Although the roofing is recent, the pinions are much older!

Restored eaves!

Robust roofing!

From another angle!

Back to the venerable tree!

He must have a lot of stories to tell!

Good-bye!

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

in spite of its respectable size, Inomiya Shrine in Aoi Ku, Shzuoka City, does not welcome many visitors because of the proximity of the biggest shrine in Shizuoka City, namely Sengen Shrine.

It is nonetheless well advertised although its torii tends to be overlooked along a busy thoroughfare.

it is very very old but it was rebuilt on the present location in 1776!

But quite a few predate the coming of the shrine!

The nearby mountain provides a natural background in the city!

Take your time climb the stairs!

Hydrangeas are plentiful in this season!

The main shrine!

The hand-washing stone basin!

An unusual frog sitting on the lid over the well!

Imposing stone lanterns!

A mountain pattern carving can be guessed on the very old stone!

I’ve seen these patterns of a deer and cloud, as well as of the mountain, in many other shrines!

But the guarding lions do look different!

The left guarding lion!

He rests his paw over the belly of a smaller lion. Unusual!

The lion on the right!

Resting his paw atop a ball!

There is something unusual about his maws!

Try as I may, I couldn’t take out the stone ball out!

The main shrine front!

The money offerings box!

The rice straw garland!

Roofing decoration!

From another angle!

The proper way to salute the shrine!

Inomiya Shrine is actually the combination of three different shrines!

Back to the stairs!

More information!
That is when I noticed another very small shrine at the back!

Almost completely hidden from view!

Beautiful small torii gates!

One of the two foxes guarding it!

The money offerings box!

The other fox over a strange flame!

The oldest tree inside the shrine grounds!

The shrine shed and office!

Overlooking the city!

A last view from the hydrangea-lined stairway!

Back through the main torii gate!

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

I had noticed this small shrine for quite some time in Higashi Kusabuka Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City because of its many red torii gates.

The paint is flaking away these days but I remember when they were a bright orange red!

Sankaban Inari Shrine (三加番稲荷神社) is very old indeed and must have been rebuilt countless times as it was first erected on this spot in 1651 after the Yui Shosetsu Revolt as the third of a series of three identical shrines.

But the concrete wall and votive pillar are quite recent.

the concrete torii gate is probably older than the wooden smaller red torii gates.

There are eight torii gates, but I wonder if that number has a special meaning.

I heard it is still used for festivals but it certainly needs some maintenance.

This stone hand washing basin placed halfway the torii gates is probably the most ancient item in the whole place.

There is another, very old too, behind the torii gates.

The shrine.

The greenery adds a little color to the somewhat forlorn site!

The rice straw garland seemed to me a bit unusual although a local lady told me it is pretty normal!

The shrine name plaque is the oldest part of the whole edifice!

Some parts do need repair!

Interesting roof pinion!

Bye-bye and all the best!

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

Ogushi Shrine (小梳神社 ) is an ancient and well-known Shinto Shrine in Shizuoka City, within easy walking distance from Shizuok JR Station just across from Parco Department Store.
Its grounds are extensively used during flea markets and other events, but people usually miss a lot of interesting details!

The torii gate!

The old name pillar!

It is guarded by the usual two lions!

But the horn on this one is out of the ordinary!

Its facing acolyte doesn’t have one!

The shrine was oirginally standing on the grounds of the Sumpu Castle but it was moved to the present location after Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu’s death during the 17th Century!

The hand-washing stone basin!

One of the two enormous stone lanterns!

You will find a small shrine on your left past the torii gate!

It has its own torii gate!

The access bridge flies over a carp pond!

The carps!

It is also guarded by two lions!

The other lion!

Small and beautiful shrine!

It is guarded by a minuscule dragon!

And two roaring lions!

An ancient hand-washing stone basin is still in use beside it!

Leaving the small shrine!

A building probably used a shed!

The main shrine!

An old wooden lantern placed atop a new concrete pillar!

The rice–straw garland!

The coin offerings box with a double crest!

This particular shrines apparently serves a double purpose!

Plenty of sake bottles offerings inside!

The festival drum!

The two crests!

A side view of the main shrine!

From another angle!

If you proceed left of the main shrine you will find not one, but two smaller shrines guarded by different animals!
The torri gate of the first and bigger one!

Fox guards!

These are always different!
One with a closed mouth!

The other keeping a scroll between its maws!

Once again a small but beautiful shrine!

It is also decorated with a rice straw garland!

Frolicking foxes!

An even smaller one stands at the back!

Discarded roof peak?

Guarded by two foxes again!

A fierce fox of unusual colors!

The other looking fierce, too!

Obviously a more ancient shrine!

The main shrine seen from a side entrance on its right!

The side entrance torii gate!

A last look at Ogushi 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

Yesterday I had to revisit a favorite place of mine again up in the mountains along the Abe River in Shizuoka City!

It was still early in the morning at at around 9:30!

i come here regularly as my goof friend, Ms. Asami Ito of marufuku Seisha Tea Co. in Shizuoka City. has a piece of land up there with an old house and plenty of Japanese plum trees!

It does take time to reach the place, even by car, at least an hour as you have t climb up a sole narrow road up to 1,000 meters height!

But the vistas waiting for you there are worth the whole trip!

Now, the very place we have to alight from the car is beside the highest green tea field in Japan!

I don’t know exactly when, but the local farmers in Higashi Mine, Umegashima, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City erected this small house to protect and ancient small shrine called Inari Myoujin/稲荷明神!

The small torii gate was actually created by a local wood cutter who has a shed just nearby!

This is a very rare design in Japan with the upper beam a real tree trunk just cut and peeled off!
Beautiful!

Inari Myoujin Shinto Shrine!

The original and truly ancient shrine tucked inside!

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

There are many practically forgotten Shinto Shrines along rivers and the foot of mountains in Shizuoka Prefecture due to the moving of population away from the rural areas.
The other day it took me no less than 4 hours on my old bicycle to find Ashitsuki Shrine up along the Ashikubo River in blinding heat but it certainly was worth the effort as it has been almost completely forgotten by the locals who had problems to inform me!
It was only when I found myself only 200 meters that someone confidently pointed me the way!

it is completely hidden from the view from across the road or river. And the only way to find it is to go down form your bicycle and push it along. That is, if you are not a local!
It is completely surrounded with trees and the entrance is invaded by beautiful hydrangeas!

The old, a bit lonely torii gate!

The surrounding area is green tea land!

Very tall trees!

The shrine!

The main shrine!

Old stone lantern with sun and moon openings!

Ashitsuki Shrine (足坏神社 ) written the old way round!

Actually for its look of abandonment, the shrine is still being used for local matsuri/festivals!

The money offerings box!

Benefactors’ names!

More of them!

Driftwood decoration!

There was another smaller shrine behind with closed doors!

Including a small kamidana/altar!

i also found a large shrine shed!

I managed to open it and discovered a festival drum and empty tea boxes!

interesting roof architecture of the main shrine!

Back down very old stone stairs!

A last look at the stone lanterns!

A last farewell before hitting the road!

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

Another long, very long cycling trip to find an elusive shrine I had discovered on the internet and decided to investigate: Takyou Shrine (建穂神社)!
It is located along the Warashina River, a main tribute of the Abe River.
Of course i got lost a few times on the way (but with positive results!)!

After a half dozen misses I knew I was on the right way!
Why do streets always look so wide on maps? LOL

Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takyou, 1-20, almost two haours by (normal) bicycle from the city center!

The toriii gate on top of the stone stairs!

The main shrine!

Old wood!

Old trees around a Shinto Shrine are a good indicator of its age, even if it is regularly re-built!

Truly enormous by Shizuoka standards!

View over Takyou through the torii gate!

I discovered two older edifices beside and behind the main Shrine building!

Small and old!

With its own rice straw garland!

The old ancient original shrine was being repaired!

Stone stairway from another age!

It also had its own rice straw garland!

Wild boar guards!

Carved wood of another age!

Old style false window!

Everything but the roofing is made of carved wood!

Ancient craft as I couldn’t see any nails!

A study in old architecture!

From another angle!

The red painted metal roofing!

Local people are very proud of the Great Takyou Shrine Cedar Tree!

Impossible to frame inside a single picture!

Another tree well over 500 years old!

A couple of last pictures before riding back home: the main building rice straw garland!

Roof tile decoration!

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