Love River Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Ibaraki Prefecture, and its name '愛宕' (Ai-tō) literally means Love River in Japanese. This shrine was built to commemorate the legend of Takezaki Kiyomaro, who was said to have loved a woman named Takekino and later married her after being cured by a spring water he drank from. The shrine's architecture reflects its historical significance as an important site for the worship of water kami.
- Religion
- shinto
- Enshrined kami
- Takezaki Okami
- Kami enshrined
- Takezaki Okami
- Coordinates
- 36.3912749, 139.8692907
Visitor tip
To show respect to the shrine, visitors should remove their shoes and take a photo in front of the shrine's main gate before proceeding through the entrance.
Cultural notes
This shrine is known for its unique architecture, which features two stone buildings built on a hill overlooking the surrounding landscape. Takekino, the woman who was cured by Kiyomaro, is still revered as a kami today and is said to inhabit the spring that flows from a nearby well.
Historical note
The shrine was established in 1600 during the Edo period, when it was known as Takakurayama Shrine.