Saruka Shrine

Saruka Shrine stands in Saruka, Hirakawa, at the south of the Tsugaru Plain, and is among the oldest shrines in the region. Its former rank was prefectural shrine, and today it is a Beppyo Shrine of the Association of Shinto Shrines. The grounds of about 15,000 tsubo include two ponds, Kagami-ga-ike and Miharashi-ga-ike, and together with the neighboring Saruka Park the area is a place of relaxation for local people.

The deity enshrined is Kamitsukeno no Kimi Tamichi no Mikoto, with Ukemochi no Kami in the adjoining shrine. According to the shrine's tradition, Tamichi died in battle against the Emishi, and his body became a great serpent that subdued them before being enshrined at the present site. It is said that Sakanoue no Tamuramaro built a shrine here in 793 (Enryaku 12) and that the main buildings were constructed in 807 (Daido 2).

The shrine later merged with the deity Jinja Daiō to become known as "Jinja Daigongen (Shinja-gu)," and was revered by warriors as a god of war. In the Edo period it became a prayer site of the Tsugaru domain and flourished as the Shugendo center "Sarukasan Chomyo-in." It became a shrine in 1871 (Meiji 4) and was raised to prefectural shrine rank in 1883.

The main hall is a three-bay nagare-zukuri building. It is considered unusual because it has no front room and the whole beam span is three bays, and it was designated an Important Property of Aomori Prefecture in 1994. The Nanukado Taisai on the 7th day of the first lunar month is selected as "Tsugaru Nanukado Festival," a nationally selected intangible folk cultural property, and at the Jugoya Taisai (main festival) on the 15th of the eighth lunar month, Tsugaru kagura is offered at the eve festival the day before.

The highlight of the grounds is the lotus of Kagami-ga-ike. Lotuses grow thickly in the pond and bloom in summer, and "renkon yokan," a sweet made from lotus root, is a local specialty. Spring brings cherry blossoms around the ponds, and from late October to early November the autumn leaves are lovely; the red shrine bridge and the shrine reflected in the water make good photographs. On Miharashi-ga-ike you can go boating except in winter.

A hot spring was found on the shore of that pond in 1969 (Showa 44) and is known as Saruka Onsen, so a soak or a meal after worship is a pleasant option. Allow about an hour for worship and a walk around the grounds, or 1.5 to 2 hours to circle the ponds slowly in the cherry blossom or lotus seasons.

By train it is about 15 minutes on foot from Tsugaru-Onoe Station on the Konan Railway, or take the Konan Bus from JR Hirosaki Station to Saruka Jinja-mae. By car it is about 10 minutes from Kuroishi IC on the Tohoku Expressway, with free parking. Nearby sights include Hirosaki Castle (about 8.4 km) and Iwakiyama Shrine (about 16.7 km), making it a good stop on a Tsugaru trip.