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Atago Shrine

A shrine to the god of fire protecting Fukuoka city

Fire gods reside on mountains and are among the most powerful deities in Japan. They stand as protectors of the cities as well as guardians for their citizens. Fire is also considered a source of light and cooking in both modern and ancient times. Atago Shinto Shrine is dedicated to the god Atago-Sama, as he is usually called. Atago Shrine is one of the three major shrines in Japan dedicated to the god Atago. The other two are located in Tokyo and Iwana (present day Kasama).

The shrine dates back to 72 A.D. when it was first built. It was then known as Washio Shrine. Originally the shrine was home to two gods. Two more were added when Atago Shrine in Kyoto was merged with Washio Shrine in 1634 by Kuroda Tadayuki, of the Kuroda clan. The Kuroda clan was given the Fukuoka area after supporting Ieyasu’s victory during the battle of Sekigahara in the year of 1600. The shrine today is home to four gods. The present building today dates from the 17th century.

The shrine attracts visitors year-round. On New Year’s Day, approximately 700,000 people visit this sacred shrine. The shrine hosts a new year’s festival (January 23-24), a cherry blossom festival (April 1-15), Tanabata (Star) festival (July 7), Hozuki summer festival (July 20-21), Shichi-go-san children's festival (November 15), a fire festival (December 5) and the Dai-Saito Homa Ceremony of Shinto and Buddhist realms.

The shrine attracts visitors from Fukuoka and beyond for its healing powers. The shrine is said to help drive away evil, bringing good fortune, helping start a harmonious relationship, having success in business and academics, bringing traffic safety and keeping the home safe and secure (with the hearth in the home as a place of warmth and cooking). The shrine is also said to have power to help those who wish to give up drinking and smoking!

The shrine and the hill it stands on were long known as Mount Washio and Washio Shrine. This changed when the feudal lord of Fukuoka transferred his tutelary deity there from Kyoto in 1634. There is a breathtaking view of Fukuoka, Hakata bay and Fukuoka Tower. Night or day, the view from the hill is spectacular. There are over 2,000 cherry blossom trees on the shrine grounds which draw thousands of visitors during the Sakura festival.

Atago shrine is a 15 minute walk from Muromi Station on the Kuko subway line and a shorter walk if you take the bus (Nishitestu bus #1 and get off at Atago-shita bus stop).

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lens.on.japan 11 years ago
Thank you for your recommendation. I don't think my visits to Atago Shrines in Kyoto, Tokyo, and Fukuoka so far gave me enough knowledge to write an article about them.

As to your idea from the previous comment that a transfer of a shinto kami "invalidates" the source shrine, please read the article on "kanjō" in English wikipedia. It is well explained there.
Tony Mariani Author 11 years ago
Hi Lens, thank you for your feed-back. We will disagree. I would recommend that you visit the Atago shrine in Kyoto and publish an article on it. I would be very interested in reading that. Perhaps I may comment on it myself? Have a great day my friend.
lens.on.japan 11 years ago
Sir, I am sorry, but I think the only entity trying to proclaim something as "official" here is you. I assume, based on your conversation with a priest in Fukuoka. The problem here might be that what the priest said was different from what you understood and what you are trying to convey to your readers.

It is indeed interesting that you would even question and depreciate the common knowledge as represented on wikipedia. Despite the fact that the quote "Atago Jinja is the head of nine hundred Atago shrines throughout Japan" points directly to the source.
Tony Mariani Author 11 years ago
It does not surprise me that the shrine in Kyoto is still associated with Atago. However does that give it "official" status after the gods were transferred to Fukuoka? I don't think the reference in a wikipedia page is giving an answer to that. Japanese gods and deities have official and unofficial locations. It's an interesting discussion. Your input is appreciated.
lens.on.japan 11 years ago
Atago is >900m high mountain NE of Kyoto associated with syncretic cult for over 1000 years. Similar to those of Hieizan or Kurama. It is hard to merge it by order of a far-away local daimyo with anything.

Nowadays too it is a living center of the cult and Atago Shrine is the headquarters of other affiliated shrines (that should be pretty obvious by itself, but you can check the wikipedia page - search for "Atago Shrine". Please correct the quote: 「全国に約900社ある愛宕神社の総本社である」 if you have different written sources).

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