Takino Shrine

Takino Shrine in Yanagawa, Date City, Fukushima, has long been called the Great Waterfall Deity because a dragon deity is said to dwell in the clear stream beside its grounds. Legend says people who fled the turmoil of the Genpei War to settle in Shirane enshrined it as a guardian deity, making it a hidden old shrine where farming faith and dragon faith live on.

Highlights

- The faith in the Great Waterfall Deity, with a dragon said to dwell in the clear stream beside the grounds. - Ceiling paintings depicting a dragon deity and the twelve zodiac animals, a valuable work passed down over many years. - A history rooted in the community as a guardian watching over farming and sericulture. - A calm setting standing quietly in a peaceful village.

Enjoying the Seasons

In spring the greenery of the grounds buds and the murmur of the stream sounds pleasant. Summer offers refreshing visits with the cool of the waterside, and autumn colors the surrounding hills. In winter the solemnity of this dragon-enshrining shrine stands out amid snow-wrapped silence.

Access and Basic Information

- Location: Shirane area, Yanagawa, Date City, Fukushima. - Access by car is convenient. - You look up to view the ceiling paintings, so allow plenty of time. - The streamside footing may be wet, so take care.

A Quick Tip

Linked to the dragon deity, many people visit to make wishes related to the year of the dragon or to water. Looking up slowly at the ceiling paintings to find the arrangement of the dragon and zodiac is one way to enjoy a visit.