Kankoku Jinja

Kankoku Jinja is said to have been founded during the era of Empress Suiko, making it one of the oldest shrines in Nara with especially distinguished history. A shrine of proper lineage continuing from the Asuka period, the name "Kankoku" itself reflects its deep connection with the transmission of continental culture. What is particularly intriguing is that this shrine is also famous as the ancestral deity of dumplings! Beloved as the deity of confections, the Manju Festival is held every spring, and confectioners from throughout the country come to pay their respects. Despite being located in the heart of Nara, this special shrine continues to be loved as it preserves both the long history from ancient times and tells the story of the development of Japanese food culture.