Shizuoka Sengen Shrine: My Small Discoveries

Shizuoka Sengen Shrine is one of the most important Shinto shrines in Shizuoka City.
It consists of several buildings spread across a spacious area.

I visited the shrine because my father was scheduled to receive a ritual blessing.
While the ritual itself is a personal matter, it is also a cultural practice that visitors can make an interesting opportunity to experience a part of Japanese tradition.

The two main shrine, Asama shrine and Kambe Shrine, were undergoing restoration at the time of our visit (at the end of April). Because of this, the ritual was held at Otoshimioya Shrine.

Otoshimioya Shrine

Discovery1: “Inome”

Inome

If you look closely at the picture above, you may notice the shape that looks like a small heart.
At first glance, I thought they were really cute—but according to some explanation in the shrine grounds, I learned it’s not a heart!

The shape is called “inome”, which literally means “boar’s eye.” Inome is a traditional Japanese motif that has long been used as a protective symbol.
If you ever visit Shizuoka Sengen Shrine, I highly recommend taking a slow walk and trying to spot as many inome as you can. It turns the visit into a quiet treasure hunt.

Discovery2: Rest Area and One-Night Sake

After walking around the shrine grounds, there is a rest area that includes a small souvenir shop and a café. Among some food and drinks available, one item especially caught my attention: “Ichiya-zake”, or “one-night sake.”

According to local tradition, this sweet drink is closely associated with Konohana Sakuya-hime, the deity most closely connected to the shrine.
Ichiya-zake is made from rice malt, water, and a small amount of salt. It is non-alcoholic and served warm.

After exploring the grounds, warming up with a cup of ichiya-zake is a gentle and comforting way to end the visit.

Ichiya-zake