Goryō Shrine

Goryō Shrine is the ubusuna-gami (guardian deity of one’s birthplace) for areas such as Semba, Nakanoshima, and Tosabori. An ubusuna-gami is a deity believed to protect a person for life in the land where they were born. Locally, Goryō Shrine is affectionately called “Goryō-san.” Its predecessor (the Tsubura Shinshi) is said to have been founded around the late 9th century, but it was moved to its present location in 1594. In 1696, it took the name “Goryō Shrine.” The enshrined deities are five: Amaterasu Ōmikami Aramitama, Tsuburahiko-no-Kami, Tsuburahime-no-Kami, Emperor Ōjin, and Genshōrei-no-Kami (the spirit of Kamakura Gongorō Kagemasa). The shrine is believed to bring blessings such as warding off misfortune, prosperous business, and safe childbirth. A camphor tree that survived air raids during World War II continued to grow afterward and came to be called the “Skin-Protection Tree,” said to be good for the skin when prayed to. Goryō Shrine is also known as a cherry-blossom spot; in sakura season, you might even do a “cherry-blossom hop” by walking to Utsubo Park, about 8 minutes away.