It enshrines Amano-Iwato, the rock cave where Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess, hid herself. More about Shinto Shrine , Click here.
The Myth Story, Amanoiwato
The story is written in the Kojiki, “Records of Ancient Matters,” and the Nihon Shoki, “Chronicles of Japan.”
Amaterasu got angry at the violent deeds of her brother Susanoo and hid herself in the rock cave. As a result, the world became completely dark. The gods were in big trouble and held a meeting to solve this situation.
The first attempt involved a rooster. Roosters crow in the morning and were thought to invite the sun to rise. So the gods placed a rooster outside the cave, but it was in vain.
The next attempt was an entertainment show. The gods performed a dance and pretended to have a lot of fun to raise the goddess’s curiosity. She became interested in the noise outside and opened the door slightly. At that moment, the strongest god, Tajikarao, held the door and opened it. She emerged, and the world became bright again.
Amano-Yasukawara Riverside
There is a cave by the riverside beneath the shrine. This place is said to have been where the gods met to solve the problem of Amanoiwato.
After a few minutes’ walk downhill from the shrine, you reach the small Ama-no-Yasukawara shrine hidden in the depths of the cave. All around the shrine and at the river’s edge are numerous piles of flat pebbles, each one left by a visitor who made a wish.
