Inari Shrine
This shrine is located in Ataishi, Himegi. The deities worshiped are Ama-no-Minakamushi-no-kami, Takaokami-no-kami, and Ukanomitama-no-kami. It was formerly a village shrine, and its foundation date has yet to be discovered.
The site where the shrine stands today was once home to the Ama-no-Minakamushi Shrine. At that time, there was no shrine pavilion, and the giant stone to the right of the present shrine pavilion was the sacred body of the shrine.
On June 13, 1907 (Meiji 40), Kifune Shrine (founded in the Kansei Era) in Himegi and Takeshita Shrine were merged. On May 27, 1912 (Meiji 45), Inari Shrine (based in the Kansei Era) in Himegi Nishi-urikawara merged. On May 30 of the same year, the shrine was renamed Inari Shrine (Shrine Journal, Shrine Description Book).
Nishi-Urikawara, Ataishi, Takeshita, Tanabe, and Hiraoka are in its parish. According to Ataishi’s chief priest, March 3 is the spring festival. In the past, the community women used to make yomogi dumplings. On August 3, lanterns are hung in the temple’s precincts as an offering ceremony. These Rokugatsudo (summer festivals) are held all over Kagoshima Prefecture. On October 3, the locals would make onishime and onigiri (rice balls) at the autumn festival. On December 3, a Shinto ritual is celebrated as Niiname-sai.
“Myo” is inscribed on the fused tuff behind the shrine building. It is believed that this was carved by a stonemason from Muke at the end of the Taisho period (1912-1926) to indicate that this area was once the site of Myoken Shrine. Takizaki Shinzo, the former principal of Kiyomizu Elementary School, wrote the character for “Myo.” It can still be seen from the precincts of the shrine. During the construction of the current shrine building, there was talk about a golden snake that construction workers had seen near the shrine office, located in the plaza under the stairs.
Sugawara Shrine
This is located in Aza Tenjin in Himegi. The deities are Sugawara-no-Michizane, Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto, and Toyoukebime-no-Mikoto. There are two Kadomori-jinja shrines on the grounds. Although its founding is unknown, it is said that Makio Castle, which is believed to have been part of Himeki Castle, once stood on the site where the shrine is located.The head priest of Hokushin Shrine served the shrine for generations.Still, in August 1661 (Kanbun 1), the duty was handed over to Taniguchi Tajima, the head priest of Wakamiya Shrine in Kokubu. Around 1795 (Kansei 7), the chief priest of Shuko Shrine in Fuchu took charge of shrine affairs.
On March 15, 1910 (Meiji 43), Iwaya Shrine was merged, and the treasure hall and worship hall was reconstructed in 1918 (Taisho 7) (from Local History of Kiyomizu-mura).
Its parish covers the east, middle, and north of Yamano, the upper, middle, and lower parts of Nakashiro, Shinshichi, and the east and west parts of Nakahime Castle. According to the current chief priest, Nomoto Hidetaka, a shrine festival where parishioners went around the parish was also held until 1956 (Showa 31). Some of the masks were used for that event, but their whereabouts are currently unknown. Rokugatsudo was also held until two years ago but has now been discontinued.
Himeki Castle Ruins
It is said to have been called Himenoki in ancient times. It was one of the castles where the Hayato people, who were decisive in the region then, resisted the central government.
The elevation is 169 m at its highest point and is separated from Tachibanaki Castle, located north of Himeki Castle in the direction of the Haruyama Plateau, by a valley called Kannuki Seto. Geologically, Himeki Castle and Tachibanaki Castle are contiguous and are characterized by the development of towering, fused tuff on their summits.
From 720 (Yoro 4) to the following year, the Hayato people resisted by killing the provincial governor. It is said that the Hayato people fought at seven castles from Osumi Province to Hyuga Province. These were Sonooiwaki, Himanoki, Nukura, Yukibaru, Kanno, Ushikuso, and Shikamu. Sonooiwaki is believed to be near the present-day Shiroyama Park (Kokubu Kami-Ogawa). Ootomo-no-Tabito and others were dispatched from Dazaifu to conquer Hayato.
According to the Local History of Kokubu, when the Saijo clan came down from Kyoto to Osumi Province to take up a post in the provincial government in 1021 (Jian 1), they lived in Tachibana Castle while the Himeki clan, their relatives, lived in Himeki Castle.
“Kingoishi,” depicted in “Sangoku Meisho Zue,” was in the castle. After Shimazu Ujihisa’s forces captured the court, the Saijo clan attacked Shimazu’s Himeki Castle with the support of the Sagara clan, which was influential in Hitoyoshi and other areas. Ikariyama Kingo, defending the castle at the time, accidentally cut a rock while driving away the enemy. Later, people remembered his bravery by naming the split rock Kingoishi. Incidentally, Kingoishi is located near the primary entrance.
Yumoto Daigongen Monument
As for the origins of the hot spring, it is older than one might think. The presence of the Yumoto Daigongen Monument on the Hime Onsen site in the Himegi area demonstrates this. This stone monument carries an inscription of 1293 (Einin 1) and Monk Meigen on the front. Einin 1 was in the Kamakura period (1185-1333). It appears that a hot spring gushed out somewhere in the district then, and the Gongen was built by the monk Meigen to protect it. However, on the back of the monument is an inscription dated 1567 (Eiroku 10), which says that the memorial was located 5 ft. underground. A monk named Shokei learned of its existence underground because he had the same dream for three nights in mid-April and dug out the stone monument. Shokei was so moved that he erected the monument again to pray for national peace and the happiness of all people.
Koga-no-Mori
There is a giant camphor tree that marks the boundary of the former Himegi‑mura, where rice paddies spread out. It sometimes appears in books under names such as “Kaze-no-Mori” (Forest of the Wind) or “Koka-no-Mori” (Forest of Ancient Songs).
Standing here, one can see Sakurajima across the Kokubu Plain. According to legend, Shunkan, a Kyoto priest who planned to overthrow the Heike clan, Fujiwara-no-Naritsune, and Taira-no-Yasuyori were exiled to Onigashima Island (now Iwo Jima) on the orders of Taira-no-Kiyomori.
On that occasion, Hoki-no-Tsubone, the mistress of the exiled Fujiwara-no-Naritsune, visited the area in adoration of Naritsune. She could not make it to Onigashima Island, so she left a poem from this place in memory of Naritsune. Perhaps the distant Sakurajima was superimposed on Iwojima.