I’m cycling past this shrine at least once a week!
It is called Komagata Shrine/Komagata Jinja/駒形神社, of the same name of the area found in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Like most Shinto Shrines of some importance it guarded by two lions, one”smiling”,…

and one “roaring”!

It is a very old shrine dating back to the Heian era, some 1200 years ago!
These very old stones may have been erected for some celebrated locals!

Of course you have to walk through a torii gate. This one is quite recent.

On the other hand the two large stone lanterns were a lot older!

They both bore identical carvings of a mountain,…

a cloud,…

and a deer!

There were two more smaller stone lanterns bearing the same carvings!

The deer!

The cloud!

And the mountains!

It also included a small basin for ritual hand washing!

With a small but beautiful Dragon spout!

Unusually long horns!

Surging forth out of nowhere!

Although very old it was rebuilt in its present form about 430 years ago!

An old votive stone!

The Shrine Building!

The money offerings box and its crest!

A traditional corded rice straw garland made of stone!

More guarding lions!

A flying monster over the garland!

Another Dragon!

Komagata Shrine!

Festival drum painted with the same crest!

Unusual Shrine altar 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
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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