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Suwa Taisha

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description Suwa Taisha Overview

Suwa Taisha is a Shinto shrine complex located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, situated around the shores of Lake Suwa. As the head shrine of approximately 25,000 Suwa shrines nationwide, the complex is composed of four distinct shrine buildings split into two groups: the Upper Shrine and the Lower Shrine. The shrine is known for hosting the Onbashira Festival, an event held every six years where massive logs are hauled down mountains. Suwa Taisha also has historical ties to samurai and martial arts traditions.

help Suwa Taisha FAQ

How many shrine buildings make up the Suwa Taisha complex?

Suwa Taisha consists of four distinct shrine buildings located around Lake Suwa in Nagano Prefecture. The complex is divided into the Upper Shrine (Kamisha) and the Lower Shrine (Shimosha).

What unusual ritual is historically associated with Suwa Taisha?

Suwa Taisha is historically the center of the Onbashira festival, which involves logging massive fir trees. Participants famously ride the logs down steep mountainsides, a practice known as Ki-otoshi.

How many Suwa shrines exist across Japan?

Suwa Taisha serves as the head shrine for a massive network of roughly 25,000 Suwa shrines across Japan. It is one of the oldest and most influential religious complexes in the country.

Which historical samurai clans were known patrons of Suwa Taisha?

The shrine was highly venerated by prominent samurai clans, including the Takeda clan. The famed 16th-century warlord Takeda Shingen was a particularly devout follower of the shrine's deity.

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