Takachiho-gawara

The sacred ground of the descent to earth of Ninigi-no-Mikoto, the grandson of Amaterasu.
Sacred rites/duties being performed at the Torii

Takachiho-gawara (高千穂河原) is a small plain located near Kirishima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.[1] In Shinto, it is the theorized to be the exact place of the descent from Heaven (Takamagahara), known as Tenson kōrin, of Ninigi-no-Mikoto, the grandson of Amaterasu.

Site

In November, usually on the 10th, the Tenson kōrin gojinka sai (天孫降臨御神火祭) takes place there.[2][3] It is part of the cultural area surrounding Kirishima-Jingū, a national significant cultural property,[4][5] mainly because it was the previous site of a shrine that was destroyed by a volcanic eruption from Mount Kirishima (specifically the Takachihonomine volcano peak).[4][5]

There used to be a previous shrine compound of Kirishima-Jingū called Furumiya-ato (古宮址) located there.

A panorama can be seen from the top (~970 metres),[2] including nearby wildlife and Japanese azaleas, a group of Rhododendron.

References

  1. ^ "About Takachiho-gawara". www.japanhoppers.com/. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Takachiho-gawara | Kirishima". Japan Hoppers - Free Japan Travel Guide. Retrieved 2018-11-16.
  3. ^ "Tenson Korin Kirishima Festival｜Event Information｜Kyushu Tourism Information". Kyushu Tourism Information [Japan] (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-11-16.
  4. ^ a b "Kirishima Guide | JapanVisitor Japan Travel Guide". www.japanvisitor.com. Retrieved 2018-11-16.
  5. ^ a b "Ministry of the Environment_Let's visit the National Parks of Japan!_Kirishima_Recommended course_Kirishima Mythology Course". www.env.go.jp. Retrieved 2018-11-16.

31°53′07″N 130°53′45″E / 31.8854°N 130.8957°E / 31.8854; 130.8957