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Experiences, Events, and Spots
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Experiences, Events, and Spots
ao Shrine
ao Shrine enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, Prince ao, and Ichikishimahime (Benzaiten) as its deities. The name "ao" comes from the legend that Prince ao, the son of Emperor Heizei, the 51st emperor of Japan, lived in this area and ruled with good governance in the early Heian period, and a stone monument reading "Historic ao: Site of Prince Ao's Residence" stands within the shrine grounds.
It is also said that a shrine was built here to enshrine the deity Sugawara no Michizane, who passed through ao before going to Dazaifu.
Basic information
The main hall, which enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, dates back to the early Edo period, while the worship hall was rebuilt at the end of the Edo period. Though small in scale, they are praised for their excellent workmanship. There is also a door at the back of the main hall, which is quite rare nationwide.
Three sacred camphor trees stand tall within the grounds, and the large camphor tree behind the main hall is said to be over 1,000 years old, making its majestic appearance one of the most powerful spots in the region.
Furthermore, Prince ao, the local guardian deity, had as his fifth son Ariwara no Narihira, a poet famous as one of the Six Immortal Poets, and the Flower Ceiling Project, which involved painting ten waka poems by Ariwara no Narihira, who has ties to Prince ao, and the enshrined deity, Sugawara no Michizane, on the ceiling of the worship hall, was completed at the end of Reiwa 6. Furthermore, the worship hall is beautifully decorated with 48 floral paintings, both ancient and modern, and the sight is truly breathtaking.
| Contact Us | 阿保神社 072-331-6153 |
|---|---|
| Official website | https://ao-shrine.com/ |
| Address | 5-4-19 ao Matsubara City |
| Access |
15 minutes walk from Kintetsu Kawachi Matsubara Station |
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