【Strolling through Nishi-ward 5】Sengen Jinja Shrine on Sodesuri Mountain 【Strolling through Nishi-ward 5】Sengen Jinja Shrine on Sodesuri Mountain
Spot information
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| Web site | https://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/nishi/shokai/kanko/spot/sozoroaruki/ |
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Description
Strolling through Nishi-ward: Sengen Jinja Shrine on Sodesuri Mountain
Sengen-cho used to be called Shibou-mura located between Kanagawa-juku and Hodogaya-juku in the past. It used to be a port at the mouth of Katabira River faced beautiful inlet called Sodegaura before its land reclamation and it flourished as relay point of transporting rice, firewood and charcoal. When residents discussed change of its town name, there was a funny opinion that they wanted to change it because it was the same pronunciation as “death” in Japanese. But anyway, they settled on “Sengen-cho” at the end.
Sengen Jinja Shrine is located on the corner of so-called “Sodesuri Mountain” which is a local Shinto shrine and this is the origin of the name. According to the shrine’s biography, it was built by Minamoto no Yoritomo’s order and has already 900 years history. Deity of the shrine is called Konohanasakuyahimenomikoto and its original spirit is enshrined Sengen Shrine on top of Mt. Fuji. The main shrine is Sengen-zukuri style and made in the shape of Mt. Fuji.
Did you know that an important movie scene of “Sugata Sanshiro” directed by Akira Kurosawa was filmed at the stone staircase on the back side of the shrine?
Writing and picture by Tai Hasewaga (Nishi ward Cultural Association/Chairman of Kiko Society)
※This is a sketch and writing published in Yokohama Public Relation Nishi ward edition between November 1997 and April 2004. Please be noted that there’s a possibility that information in the article may be changed.
(Published March in 1998)