Ｖｅｒｍｉｌｌｉｏｎ ａｎｄ Ｗｈｉｔｅ
上田市の生島足島神社の独特な朱色は冬の雪と綺麗なコントラストになります。先日は上田市へ行く用事があって、帰りは久しぶりにこの「日本のおへそ」と言われている神社に寄りました。生島と足島の二つの神の神社にもなっているようだし、日本中の全ての霊魂が入っているようだし、日本全国を守っている神もなっているようです。つまり、重要な神社です。
と言いながら、正直って、神道に詳しくない私にはその朱色はとにかく印象的です。なおかつ、雪景色との合わせで更に見事な絵になります。
生島足島神社は戸倉上山田温泉・亀清旅館から車で約３０分です。もしくは、上田駅経由でしなの鉄道（戸倉駅）・上田電鉄（下之郷駅；レンタサイクル有り）コンビで行けます。
詳しくは神社のＨＰへ。
２月３日に生島足島神社の節分祭が行います。式は１４時から；１５時半から豆が飛びます。
With a fresh covering of snow, Ueda City's Ikushima Tarushima Shrine's brilliant vermillion color stands out beautifully with the contrasting white of the snow. The other day, I had an errand to run in Ueda, and on the way back I stopped to see this shrine which is noted for supposedly being the geographic center of Japan (hence its nickname: Japan's belly button).
This shrine is also noted for being the home of Ikushima, the fertility god, and Tarushima, the god of fulfillment. Furthermore, it also supposedly houses all of the souls from throughout Japan. And as if that weren't enough, its god is supposedly the guardian diety of the entire country. That makes it one noteworthy shrine.
For me, someone not very initiated in Shintoism, the thing that most stands out about this shrine is the destinctive vermillion color accenting the achitecture throughout the complex. And with a touch of contrasting white from the snow, it makes for even more of a photogenic setting.
Ikushima Tarushima Shrine is about 30 minutes from Kamesei Ryokan and our onsen town, Togura Kamiyamada, via car. It is also accessible by train, using a combination of Shinano Railway (Togura Station) changing at Ueda Station to Ueda Dentetsu. 'Shimonogo' is the closest station and has rental cycles available.
This shrine is so cool it has its own website. For info in English, you can check here.
February 3rd, Ikushima Tarushima Shrine, as well at shrines and temples throughout the country, the annual Setsubun bean throwing ceremony will take place. Ceremony starts at 2pm, been throwing at 3:30pm.
