Hoshimiya Jinja

I shall tell you of the ancient Hoshimiya Shrine, founded during the Kyuan period (1145-1150). This sacred ground stands upon a hilltop called 'Misasagi' since ancient times, where a tumulus of over two thousand years has rested. The main deity enshrined here is Ninigi-no-Mikoto, accompanied by Iwasaku-no-Kami and Nesaku-no-Kami. Before the separation of Buddhism and Shinto, Kokuzo Bosatsu was also worshipped here, all revered as deities of national development. During the Keicho period, when Sano Castle was constructed, the hilltop was expanded using earth from the castle's inner and outer moats. In 1676, when Lord Ii Kaibenokami Fujiwara Naozumi passed away, his bequeathed funds combined with 350 ryo from local offerings were used to rebuild the shrine buildings in 1683. Notably, a mathematical tablet was offered in 1683, though sadly lost to fire in 1975. This shrine continues to be deeply revered by the local community as a deity of land development and learning, maintaining its sacred role through the centuries.