Saka Shrine

Nestled in Kobyo-cho, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, Saka-jinja (also known as Matsuo-jinja) is revered as a guardian deity of sake brewing. The Izumo no Kuni Fudoki records a legend in which 180 deities gathered here to build a sacred kitchen, brew sake, and celebrate for 180 days. The principal deities are Kusuno-kami, a sake deity sometimes identified with Sukunabikona, and Oyamakui-no-mikoto, enshrined here from Matsuo-taisha in Kyoto. Listed in the Engishiki, this venerable shrine drew devotion from the Matsue domain lord and local sake brewers during the Edo period. The Doburoku Matsuri held each October continues this brewing tradition to this day.