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Nearest station

Midoriko

    JR ChūōLine

長野県塩尻市塩尻町6

Nagano-ken, Shiojiri-shi, Shiojiri-machi 6

阿禮神社

  Arei Jinja

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July 26, 2018

History

The Engi Shiki has a listing for an Arei Jinja (阿礼神社) in Shinano Province, Chikuma-gun and it is thought that this may be the current Arei Jinja. When it was founded is unclear but the shrine legend links it to Susano-o, saying that after slaying the Yamata Orochi in the upper reaches of the Hikawa river in Izumo he materialized at Arahikoyama (荒彦山) in the upper reaches of the Shiokawa river in Shinano Province and destroyed another demon. It is probable that Arahikoyama is the mountain now called Iodo-san(五百渡山). This meritorious feat is said to be the origins of the shrine. In 807, during the Daidō Period, Sakanoue Tamuramaro is said to have relocated the shrine to where the rear shrine is now located, a place then known as Myōjintaira (明神平). In September 851, Year 1 of the Ninju Period, the shrine's credibility was greatly enhanced when the then gūji was able to enlist divine help in stopping an epidemic which had broken out. The following year  another shrine was built in front of the 

Enshrined Kami:  

Main

Susano-o-no mikoto (57)   素盞嗚尊

From Merged Shrines

Ōnamuchi-kami                    大己貴神

Hondawake-no-mikoto        誉田別命

In-ground Shrines:

Wakon Jinja          和魂神社

Arei Tenjin          阿禮天神

 

​Annual Festival:  2nd Sunday of July

Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri

rear shrine and  Ōnamuchi-kami and Hondawake-no-mikoto were jointly enshrined therein. In 1191 Shiojiri was split into two administrative units, West and East. In the former, Suwa Myōjin was the tutelary deity, while in the Eastern part a Hachiman-Gū was built on the land now occupied by Arai Jinja. Minamoto Yoshinaka is also said to have visited the shrine while raising troops in the area.

Description

About 1.7km from Midoriko Station. The main hall is said to have been rebuilt in 1743 and is quite interesting. For most visitors, however, the shrine's most appealing aspect is surely the pair of large koma-inu in front of the hall. These were erected in 1940 to celebrate the 2600th anniversary of the accession of the first emperor, Jimmu, in 660 BC. The stonemason was Akabane Yōjin (赤羽要人) but I have been unable to find out anything about him. That said, his work speaks for itself.

(Click on images to expand them)

Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
Arei Jinja  阿禮神社 Nagano-ken, Shiojiri
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