We continue our visit at one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan, Ikuta Shrine. Also the location of the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani in which the Taira clan used the narrow strip between the sea of the south and mountains of the north.
The location was where the Taira clan would suffer a crucial defeat by the forces of Yoshitsune and Noriyori.
During that time, behind Ikuta Shrine were woods and forest. Now, a lot of the area has become a cityscape, while parts of the woods were saved right behind Ikuta Shrine.
The area that exists behind the Ikuta main hall is known as “Ikuta no Mori” (Ikuta Forest) and has been written in many books, especially during the Genpei War.
And many soldiers camped out in the forest before heading out to battle.
While I am happy to see that a very small part of the renown Ikuta forest survives behind the main hall today, it’s also somewhat sad to know that a large majority of it is no longer around. But that’s part of a metropolitan city and paving the way for the population and development in the past several hundred years.
But at least the trees and plants still exist today and like the shrine, has lived through multiple disasters.
In the middle of the forest, you will see another shrine area, Jinguukouzou with a wooden gazebo right before it and nearby you’ll find a rest area for one to sit and enjoy the serenity of the forest.
And my next blog post will complete my coverage of Ikuta Shrine, as we look at the multiple torii and a few other cool things to see at Ikuta Shrine!
The One about Ikuta Shrine in Kobe Part 1 – One of the Oldest Shrines in Japan/The First Torii
The One about Ikuta Shrine in Kobe Part 2 – The Second Torii
The One about Ikuta Shrine in Kobe Part 3 – One last gate before reaching Ikuta Shrine
The One about Ikuta Shrine in Kobe Part 4 – Ikuta Shrine
The One about Ikuta Shrine in Kobe Part 5 – Ikuta pond and multiple shrines
The One about Ikuta Shrine in Kobe Part 6 – Ikuta no Mori
The One about Ikuta Shrine in Kobe Part 7 (FINAL) – Ugano Mitama no Mikoto
