[Shimogo Town, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima Prefecture] Ouchi-juku’s hidden power spot “Takakura Shrine”

Ouchi-juku is located in Shimogo-cho, Minamiaizu-gun, Fukushima Prefecture . It is famous as one of Fukushima's tourist attractions because you can see old houses with thatched roofs lined up along the road.

If you take a short walk down a side street from the main street of Ouchi-juku, you will find a beautiful shrine surrounded by tranquility, far from the hustle and bustle of tourist areas.

Ouchi-juku and Takakura Shrine

Ouchi-juku is a post town on the Aizu West Highway that was established around 1643 during the Edo period, and is located at the eastern end of a small basin at an altitude of around 658 meters surrounded by the Ou Mountains.

With the spread of railways during the Meiji period, it gradually lost its status as a post town, but the traditional scenery of a post town, lined with old folk houses with thatched roofs, has been passed down from generation to generation, and in 1981 an Important Traditional Building. It has been selected as a group conservation area

Since then, it has developed into a tourist destination visited by many tourists, and continues to this day.

Takakura Shrine, which enshrines King Mochihito

Takakura Shrine is the general guardian of seven neighboring villages, including Ouchi- is said to be a shrine dedicated King Mochihito,

Although its exact origin is unknown, its founding dates back to the time of the Genpei War.

Following the political change in 1179, which began when Taira no Kiyomori staged a coup d'état and imprisoned Cloistered Emperor Goshirakawa, the Heike family came to rule the imperial court. In 1180, King Mochihito, who was worried about this, plotted to overthrow the Heike clan and issued ``King Mochihito's Reiji.''

He himself attempted to raise an army, calling himself ``the most victorious Imperial Prince,'' but his plan was revealed to the Heike side at an early stage, and he was defeated in a battle with the pursuing army dispatched.

According to generally known historical facts, King Mochihito died here, but according to the legend passed down in Ouchi-juku, he secretly escaped from the battlefield, took the Tosando road, and ended up in Ouchi-juku.

After that, King Nito stayed in this area for a while, but the Taira family learned that he was alive and sent a pursuer.

At the moment when King Mochihito was about to fall into the hands of his pursuers, lightning suddenly struck nearby and the pursuers became frightened, thinking that this was a divine message telling them not to kill King Mochihito, and secretly secretly killed King Mochihito. It is said that he fled to Echigo and built Takakura Shrine, which is dedicated to King Mochihito, in this area.

By the way, Prince Mochihito's residence was located in Sanjo Takakura, Kyoto, so it was also called Sanjo-miya or Takakura-miya. The name of Takakura Shrine is thought to have originated from this place.

Takakura Shrine, where you can enjoy a mysterious atmosphere surrounded by silence

By the way, Ouchi-juku, including Takakura Shrine, has been designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

If you have ever visited this area, you will definitely see the large torii gate. This is the Ichino Torii gate of Takakura Shrine. Pass through this torii gate and continue walking toward the mountain in front of you.

After walking for about 5 minutes, you will see the Ninotorii gate of Takakura Shrine on your right. Pass through this torii gate and then climb the mountain path a little further.

A well-maintained stone path. It is said that this stream is used as a wash basin to purify one's hands.

Sannotorii of Takakura Shrine. Once you pass through here, the shrine is right in front of you.

A space where you can only hear the sounds of nature in a dignified worship hall with a strong presence. Furthermore, since it was almost evening, the light of the setting sun was shining through the trees, creating a mysterious space.

Behind the house is a large cedar tree said to be about 800 years old, 56m tall and 4.3m in circumference at breast height. At that time, there was a hornet's nest and entry was prohibited.

Takakura Shrine, located in Ouchi-juku, a major tourist destination with a constant stream of tourists, is a power spot where you can escape from the hustle and bustle and enjoy a mystical atmosphere. When you visit Ouchi-juku, please come and visit us.

Takakura Shrine＜Information＞

• Name: Takakura Shrine
• Address: Ouchi, Shimogo-cho, Minamiaizu-gun, Fukushima 969-5207
• Phone number: -
• Official URL: -

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