So often, while walking in Japan, you will discover shrines or temples in the middle a neighborhood or right next to a station.
Right next door to Kohoku Station is Koroku Shrine in Adachi, Tokyo.
Kohoku Station was opened back in April 1, 1901 as a station for Narita Railway Company and after World War II, became part of Japan National Railways and later absorbed into the JR East network in 1987.
The entire station building was rebuilt and modernized in 2007 but right next door is Koroku Shrine which is best known for its straw dragon on the stone gate in front of the temple. Which I read is a rarity in Japan.
The shrine is quite small, but because it’s next door to a station, it was quite convenient to visit. Despite going when it was pouring rain, I’m glad I did finally make it to this small shrine before heading out to Nishiarai Daishi Temple.
While I couldn’t find too much information on the shrine, I read the dragon is a symbol of a village guardian angel in the rain of God and was made sometime in the last 50 years. And that the foundation of the temple was made possibly 300 years ago.
I also read that the straw/rope dragon was created as an alternative to a plaster dragon that was created in 1914 and was attached to the old hall and the hall was made in the Year of the Dragon.
I’m not to knowledgeable about Shinto beliefs and the deities but from what I have read, the hall of worship is for Omodaru & Ayakashikone. The 12 kami that appear in the Kojiki after the Celestial Kami are called the seven generations of the age of the kami (kami no yo nana yo). The two represent the Sixth Generation of the Age of the Kami.
According to Yokaigrove, “Scholars think these names represent completeness, as in “nothing is lacking.” So either a complete man and woman or the completeness of the earth.”
On both side of the hall are ginko trees, two guardians in front of the hall and two facing the station.
While taking photos of the shrine, a lady came up to me to give me a bell. A bell (the sound of the bell) is often used in shrines to ward off evil and brings protection.
One will often see omamori Japanese amulets or small bells sold at religious sites.
But again, a small temple but glad I visited it. Here is a video I took that was streamed on Facebook Live:
