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Suwa Taisha (Upper Shrine) 諏訪大社 上社
Suwa, Nagano · Open in Google Maps
Suwa Taisha is one of the oldest shrines in Japan and the head of thousands of Suwa shrines. The Upper Shrine (Kamisha) enshrines Takeminakata and his wife Yasakatome.
What to look for
- Like several very old shrines, Suwa Taisha traditionally does not center on a main sanctuary building; worship is directed toward nature, such as the mountain and sacred trees.
- Huge fir pillars called onbashira stand at the four corners of each shrine. They are replaced in the Onbashira festival, held in the years of the Tiger and the Monkey, when giant logs are dragged down the mountain by hand.
- Suwa Taisha has four shrines in all, two Upper and two Lower, around Lake Suwa.
Enshrined kami
- Takeminakata 建御名方神
- Yasakatome 八坂刀売神
What people pray for here
Victory, strength, and success at work.
Etiquette
Look for the onbashira pillars at the corners of the precinct; they are the shrine's most distinctive feature.
New to shrines? Read our short guide to shrine etiquette: purifying your hands, bowing and clapping, offerings, omamori and goshuin.