Ookunitama Jinja

An ancient shrine boasting a history of over a thousand years as the chief shrine of Musashi Province. It is said to have been established during the time of the Taika Reforms when the Musashi Provincial Headquarters were placed in this location, and the deities of the province were enshrined here. Minamoto no Yoritomo and Tokugawa Ieyasu held it in deep reverence, and Ieyasu particularly valued it as protection against the northeastern evil direction for Edo Castle. The annual Kuraiyami Matsuri in May is famous as one of the three greatest unusual festivals of the Kanto region, named after the historic practice of conducting the sacred palanquin processions under cover of darkness. Today it remains a bustling shrine and is known as the spiritual homeland of Musashino.