About
Leaving behind the hustle and bustle of Kawasaki City and stepping into a tranquil corner enveloped in silence, you will find Kanayama Shrine standing quietly. As you set foot into the shrine grounds, the noise of the city recedes and your heart becomes calm. Passing through the torii gate, lush green trees line both sides of the approach, displaying different expressions with each season. In spring, cherry blossoms are in full bloom; in summer, deep greenery casts cool shadows. In autumn, colored leaves decorate the grounds, and in winter, a dignified air drifts through the quiet.
This shrine has long been revered as the guardian deity of blacksmiths and people involved in metalworking. The enshrined deities, Kanayamahiko-no-Mikoto and Kanayamahime-no-Mikoto, are known as gods of mines and metals, and are said to have been born when the fire god Hinokagutsuchi was brought into the world. For this reason, blacksmiths and casters have prayed to these deities for improvement of their skills and for safety.
Within the shrine grounds, Yasaka Shrine and Dairoku Tenjin Shrine are also enshrined, and each shrine building conveys a sense of historical weight. Yasaka Shrine, in particular, is worshipped as a deity for warding off epidemics, and an annual festival is held on July 13. On January 14, the "Dondo-yaki" is performed, a custom in which New Year’s decorations and first calligraphy of the year are burned to pray for good health, a tradition that continues to this day.
In one corner of the grounds, old and new Dosojin (roadside deities) sit side by side. The old Dosojin was made in Kansei 11 (1799), and had been weathered by years of exposure to the elements. Therefore, local people cooperated to erect a new Dosojin, and a relocation ceremony was held on April 29, 2011 (Heisei 23). The new Dosojin, depicting two deities pouring sake together in a heartwarming scene, symbolizes the deep bonds and faith of the community.
This area has a history where blacksmiths once gathered, honed their skills, and lived their lives. As a remnant of this, the shrine grounds house a Chijin-to (earth deity tower) and a Koshin-to (Koshin tower), reflecting the faith and culture of the local people. The shrine is also located near Kamitsuruma Bridge over the Sakaigawa River, where the gentle murmur of the river serves as a pleasant background music to welcome visitors.
Kanayama Shrine is a place where you can escape the noise of modern life and feel both tranquility and history. Visitors can calm their hearts here, spend time facing their inner selves while sensing the breath of ancient craftsmen. With nature that changes through the seasons and the warm faith of the local people, this shrine truly serves as a spiritual home.