Taga Shrine

Taga Taisha Shrine, affectionately known as "O-Taga-san," has long been worshipped as a deity of longevity and good relationships. The enshrined gods are Izanagi no Mikoto and Izanami no Mikoto, the parents of Amaterasu Omikami. According to legend, when Empress Gensho fell ill, a priest prepared strong rice and offered it with a ladle made from a shide tree, resulting in her miraculous recovery. This story gave rise to the famous "O-Taga Ladle," and ladle-shaped votive tablets are still offered at the shrine today. Many such ema, filled with prayers, adorn the grounds. It is also said that the monk Shunjobo Chogen, who visited during the Heian period, was granted an additional 20 years of life. The Longevity Stone within the shrine grounds is believed to be where he once rested. About 6 kilometers east of the shrine lies Sugisaka Pass, home to the sacred Three Cedars, said to have grown from chopsticks used by Izanagi no Mikoto after the creation of the land. The nearest station is Taga Taisha-mae Station on the Ohmi Railway, about a 10-minute walk away.