About
Amidst the rural landscape of Shinshiro City, Aichi Prefecture, the quietly standing Kuruma Shrine is a place that offers deep tranquility to its visitors. As you proceed along the approach, the vermilion torii gate stands out against the blue sky, and on both sides, alongside the guardian lion-dogs, wheels are enshrined. This symbolizes that the shrine is a special place for praying for the safety of cars and vehicles.
Although the exact date of its founding is unknown, a ridge tag from the 11th year of Tensho (1583) remains, indicating that the shrine has a history of over 400 years. It was once called “Kuruma Daimyojin,” and the enshrined deity was Ohirume-no-Mikoto. This deity is the sun god, and it is said that because the god rides across the heavens in a carriage, wheels came to be regarded as sacred. The current enshrined deity is Yamato Takeru-no-Mikoto, the same deity worshipped at Atsuta Shrine.
The shrine grounds are enveloped in silence, allowing worshippers to calm their hearts and offer prayers. It is especially cherished by drivers and riders as a place to pray for traffic safety. The shrine crest features a wheel, which in Shinto represents the sun god and has a deep connection with prayers for vehicle safety.
At the shrine, you can receive unique vehicle-specific amulets rarely seen at other shrines, such as carbon-patterned car amulets and traffic safety stickers with wheel designs. These serve as reassuring charms for people wishing for the safety of cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and even drones.
After visiting the shrine, you can stop by the “Tomioka Furusato Hall,” about 600 meters away, to receive goshuin (shrine stamps) and amulets. Goshuin are only given on the morning of the second Sunday of each month, so it is recommended to check in advance before visiting.
Kuruma Shrine is a special shrine, with only two such shrines existing nationwide, the other being located in Toyohashi City. As its name suggests, it is cherished by many people as a place to pray for the safety of cars and vehicles. Quietly standing amidst the rural scenery, this shrine will bring peace of mind and safety to those who visit.