“Waiting place” or “waiting door” sound like a good place to meet, don’t they? That’s Matsudo Shrine. It is the biggest Shinto shrine in Matsudo City. Matsudo City even owes its name to this Jinja.
Matsudo Shrine protects and watches over the citizens of Matsudo. We are standing just a few minutes walk from Matsudo Station. This famous Shinto shrine is dedicated to Prince Yamatotakeru. He was the son of Emperor Keiko. He is counted as the 12th Emperor of Japan.
Legend says Prince Yamatotakeru camped here when he came to East Japan. Years later, Matsudo Shrine was built on that very spot. The shrine has been rebuilt many times. It was officially established in 1626. Tokugawa Mitsukuni, the second shogun, rebuilt it then. Natural disasters repeatedly destroyed the Jinja. But it was always rebuilt. The last reconstruction was in 1863. In 1882, it was renamed Matsudo Jinja.
People come to Matsudo Shrine to pray. They seek home security and road safety. They also pray for success in business and other wishes. This Jinja has many smaller shrines. Each is dedicated to different divinities related to nature.
Look over there at the entrance. That is the Suijinja or Shrine of Water. It is dedicated to rivers. People pray here for protection against floods and drowning. Every June 15th, a special ceremony takes place here.
See the Akiba Shrine? It is devoted to fire control and prevention. Every June 30th, a festival is held with firefighters.
Matsudo Shrine celebrates many events throughout the year. Reitaisai on October 18th is the most important ceremony. People pray for good grain production. They also honor their ancestors’ souls. Hatsumode and Shichi Go San are other traditional ceremonies.
Every five to six years, a special event occurs. It is the Shinkosai. Almost 800 people walk together. They honor everyone’s happiness and the grace of the Gods. Four symbols are central to the celebration. These are the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise. They represent the cardinal directions.
Matsudo Shrine was founded in 1626. It is revered as the grand guardian gods of Matsudo. The Matsudo Jinja Shinkosai celebration is unique. Wooden images of the gods of the four directions join the festival procession. This festival was suspended after 1941. But it was revived in 1988. The wooden images were rediscovered. They had been stored in the back of the storehouse.
Every Shinto shrine features a temizusha water trough. Here, you can purify before worshiping. The water at Matsudo Shrine is particularly pure. The spigot is a stone dragon’s head. This reflects the tradition of depicting the god of water as a dragon or snake. Feel free to drink the water. You can even fill a few bottles to take with you.
Matsudo Shrine sits next to the Sakagawa River. You must cross a bridge to approach the shrine from the Mito Kaido. Cherry trees line the river. They offer beautiful cherry blossom views in spring. In summer, the river hosts floating lanterns. This ancient tradition sends wishes to ancestors. White chochin lanterns light up the river from July 14 to August 10. They stretch from near Matsudo Station to just past Matsudo Shrine.
So, take a moment. Reflect on the history and traditions of Matsudo Shrine. Consider the prayers and hopes offered here for centuries. May your visit bring you a sense of peace and connection to the past.