Nangu Taisha Shrine

Nangu Taisha stands at the foot of Mt. Nangu in Tarui, Gifu Prefecture, and is the ichinomiya, or highest-ranking shrine, of the former Mino Province. Its chief deity is Kanayamahiko-no-mikoto, a god of mining and metals, long worshipped by smiths and metalworkers.

Tradition dates its founding to the reign of Emperor Sujin, and it is said that Emperor Tenmu prayed here for victory during the Jinshin War of 672. The shrine burned in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 and was rebuilt in 1642 on the order of Tokugawa Iemitsu. The present vermilion complex preserves that form.

Eighteen buildings, including the main hall, worship hall, corridors, the Takamaiden stage and the two-story gate, were designated Important Cultural Properties in 1966. The Takamaiden and the gate are considered leading examples of the Nangu style, which blends Japanese (wayo) and Chinese (karayo) building styles. Flower-filled purification fountains appear on the 1st and 15th of each month, and the shrine's ritual performances are an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

Plan about an hour. The shrine is about a 20-minute walk from Tarui Station, and Sekigahara Battlefield and Yoro Falls are within reach by car.