About
As you walk through the quiet residential neighborhoods of Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, you may suddenly come upon a lush, green grove. Standing there is Tsuki Shrine, known as a shrine without a torii gate. Locally, it is affectionately called “Tsukinomiya” and warmly welcomes visitors.
Upon stepping into the precincts, the first thing that catches your eye is not a pair of guardian lion-dogs, but guardian rabbits. This is rare even nationwide and is a unique sight at Tsuki Shrine. Because the shrine’s name, “Tsuki,” is pronounced the same as “moon” in Japanese, rabbits, which are considered messengers of the moon, are enshrined as divine messengers. This belief is linked to medieval moon-waiting faith, and during the Edo period, the shrine was also called “Tsukiyomi-sha.”
Proceeding along the approach to the main hall, you are enveloped in a silence as if time has stopped, with centuries-old ginkgo, zelkova, and hackberry trees growing thickly. This sacred grove is a healing space that makes you forget the hustle and bustle of the city. The current shrine building, completed in 1859 (Ansei 6), is a splendid example of gongen-zukuri architecture made entirely of zelkova wood, and its majestic appearance leaves a deep impression on visitors.
It is said that Tsuki Shrine was founded about 2,000 years ago, during the reign of Emperor Sujin, the 10th emperor of Japan. Because the shrine was built among storehouses for offerings (tribute goods) to Ise Grand Shrine, a torii gate was not erected so as not to hinder the transport of these offerings. For this reason, the shrine is still known today as a shrine without a torii gate.
Within the precincts, you can see rabbit statues, rabbit carvings adorning the shrine building, and rabbit ema (votive plaques) everywhere. These are proof of the faith in rabbits as messengers of the moon and are believed to bring good fortune to visitors. There is also a legend known as the “Seven Mysteries” of Tsuki Shrine, one of which is that “there are no pine trees in the precincts.” This is said to originate from the story that Amaterasu Omikami, the elder sister deity, grew tired of waiting for her younger brother Susanoo-no-Mikoto, who never returned, and thus came to dislike waiting (a pun on the word for pine, “matsu,” which also means “to wait”).
Every year on December 12, the “Juni-nichi Machi” (Twelfth Day Market) festival is held, bustling with many people praying for business prosperity. During the festival, miniature rakes are sold and can be seen decorating homes and shops around Urawa. Numerous stalls are also set up, allowing visitors to feel the vibrancy of the local community.
Tsuki Shrine is a place where history, tradition, and the faith of local people are alive. Visitors can spend a peaceful moment surrounded by the gentle gaze of the rabbits and the lush greenery of the grove.