South of Shizuoka JR Station in Suruga Ku, in Yahata/八幡 (the locals pronounce it “Yaata”!) stands a small mountain called Hyahata San/八幡山 full of history hwere you can discover no less than three different Shinto Shrines and enjoy a splendid view of Mount Fuji!
The roofed stone hand-washing basin!
The stone hand wash basin where worshipers and casual visitors are asked to purify themselves (Harai 祓い) of impurity!
It even has a cute dragon as a water spout!
A row of old small stone shrines behind the basin!
The Kannushi/神主/Shrine priest’s son in front of the Hachimangu/八幡宮 Shrine, the main but not the oldes of the three shrines found on that spot!
They even sell baked sweet potatoes as a practice for the kids for the annual festival held on August the 15th!
The priest and family’s home doubling as a shrine office!
Note that this is a small shrine, therefore the priest needs another job to survive!
Still has and antique entrance porch!
The “shishi/獅子” or “Komainu/狛犬”/lion guard on the left “roaring” to scare demons.
The rice straw garland/shimenawa/注連縄 around both lion guards has a special meaning as they have stood there for exactly 100 years!
The “smiling” (actually his closed mouth means that he shelters and keeps in the good spirits) is also stadning on a pedestal made of volcanic rocks collected on the slopes of Mount Fuji!
The shrine festival chariot, unfortunately idle for lack of hands!
A small “kamidana/神棚/shrine with a “mon/文/crest” decorated money offerings box!
“Ema/絵馬/votive plaques”!
It has its own “sumo ring (dohyo/土俵)!
The Haiden 拝殿 or Worship Hall!
Some welcome information and advice!
The Haiden 拝殿 or Worship Hall with its “shimenawa/注連縄/rice straw garland, praying bells and their ropes and a money offerings box!
A lion guard on the roof!
The ancient “Hachimangu/八幡宮” Shrine name plaque!
Ancient sake/酒/rice wine offering vessels!
A more modern, probably donated, lantern!
A peek inside with sumo wrestlers’ hands prints!
The flight of stairs leading to the other two shrines!
Take the short flight on your right!
The Inari Daimyoujin（稲荷大明神) dedicated to Inari/稲荷 (the god/goddess of agriculture)!
It is actually very small!
There are actually two small kamidana/神棚/shrines facing each other!
The other one!
The flight of stairs leading to the third shrine!
A red torii/鳥居/sacred bird gate, this one with straight members, or shinmei torii 神明鳥居!
Another shrine whose purpose I could not fathom!
Getting near the Hie Shrin/日吉, which is dedicated to the mountain kami/神/god Sannō 山王!
The Hie Shrine!
I surmise that this building is there to store shrine regalia!
Two smaller kamidana/神棚/shrines before reaching the Haiden 拝殿 or Worship Hall!
Its entrance is flanked with two stone lanterns!
The cloud and deer motifs!
The mountain motif!
There is actually a flight of stairs access from the Hachimangu Shrine!
The Hie Shrine Haiden 拝殿 or Worship Hall with a gate, which is more here to d\fend off unwanted viistors than anything else as it is not locked!
There used to be another building alongside but it disappeared a long time ago in a fire.
The nawa/縄/rice straw garland/nawa with white paper that is cut into strips and hung from this garland/rope, called shime 注連 or gohei, which symbolizes purity in the Shintō faith!
A kirin/麒麟/a mythical hooved chimerical creature！
</These elephant-like mythical creatures are called "baku/獏" and they are supposed to eat nightmares!
Shishi/獅子/lion and baku/獏/nightmare eater guarding the shrine together!
The closed double door of the Haiden 拝殿 or Worship Hall!
Interesting details of the wooden architecture!
Venerable trees all around!
Actually when you take the next flight of stairs you find yourself walking through a small forest!
A few cheery tress can still be seen blooming!
Are there spirits hiding behind the trees?
Very old roots!
The top has recently been transformed into a small public park!
Getting near the very top!
From there you can discover a grans view of Mount Fuji and another one of the Suruga Bay across the city!
To be revisited again a clear and crisp day for photographs!
The small park is actually very well cared for!
See you again for the festival!
RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES
So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,
Must-see tasting websites:
-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents
HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City
SHIZUOKA TOURISM 