Sayama's main shrine and worships hall, built in the Sumiyoshi-zukuri style, are simple yet perfectly balanced. The shrine is believed to be even older than Sayama pond, Japanese oldest reservoir, as recorded in the Kojiki (Japan's oldest historical record). In the Meiji period, the person believed to be responsible for the development of Sayama Pond was enshrined as a deity and the shrine merged with Sayamatsutsumi Shrine, giving Sayama Shrine the additional identity of a birthplace shrine via the deity Ubusunagami. Crowds of people throng to the shrine every January 10th for the Ebisu Matsuri's mochi rice treat throwing ritual.

• address

  1-223 Handa, Osakasayama-shi, Osaka, 589-0011

• tel

  072-365-0905

• transport

  5-minute walk from Kongo Station on the Nankai Koya Line