Tatsuki Jinja Shrine
Recommended Themes, Seasons and Activities
Dragon Legends and Traditions:The Legend of the Okazaki Dragon
History:Shrines and Temples, Castle and Historical Site, Treasure Hall and Museum
Good Luck and Festivals:Festival and Shinto Rituals
The Arts:Sculpture、Mural Painting and Picture
Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter
Cultural Experiences(Votive Plaques, Amulet, Vermilion Seal)/ Look / Photograph
The legend of the Rising Dragon calls forth worldly success!?
The legend of the Rising Dragon says that when Okazaki Castle was being constructed, a dragon appeared and rose to the heavens while spouting water from the castle’s well. The site where that happened has been memorialized in the form of Tatsuki Shrine. The shrine has become popular as a place of mystical power, where people pray for worldly success, easy childbirth, protection against misfortune, and good luck. In association with the legend, the well is called the Well of the Dragon, and it serves as a guardian of worldly success, good luck, and the like.
Okazaki Castle is surrounded by Okazaki Park, which has many points of interest throughout the four seasons. One such place, the Gomangoku wisteria garden, is located on the south side of the park, along the banks of the Oto River. Within sight of the river, wisteria bloom on an array of trellises covering 1,300 square meters. In May and June, when the flowers are in full bloom, throngs of tourists come from Aichi and the surrounding region to stroll among the trellises, suffused with the lavender hues of the wisteria blossoms.
Gaze out over the Mikawa region from the tower of Okazaki Castle, just like Tokugawa Ieyasu
Okazaki Castle is the birthplace of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first of the Tokugawa shoguns. With its three-tiered, five-story tower, it was selected in 2006 as one of the 100 Fine Castles of Japan. At the tower, the history of Okazaki in the Edo Period is presented as a series of themes. The observation gallery on the top floor presents visitors with an extraordinarily scenic view of the Mikawa plain, with the castle town of Okazaki at it center. Within the park is the Mikawa Bushi and Ieyasu Museum, which displays historical materials about Lord Ieyasu and the samurai of the Mikawa domain. Among the many other sights of interest are the Ninomaru Noh Theatre, the teahouses Kishoan and Jonantei, the Karakuri Tokeito clock tower, and a bronze statue of Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu.
The Legend of the Okazaki Dragon
Once upon a time, in the old feudal domain of Mikawa, there was a low hill known as Dragon’s Head Mountain. In 1452, Saigo Yoritsugu built Okazaki Castle as a fortress on Dragon’s Head Mountain. Once the castle had been built, a girl wrapped in five beautiful robes and a red skirt appeared in the tower. She declared, “I am a Dragon God who can live in this area for a long time. If you will enshrine me at the village shrine, I will protect the castle and bring you prosperity for through the ages.” Saigo Yoritsugu named the castle the Castle of the Dragon and enshrined the Dragon God. About 100 years later, a boy was born at Okazaki Castle. Suddenly a swirl of black clouds formed in the sky over the castle, and a golden dragon appeared, calling forth the winds. That newborn boy grew up to become the first Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Tatsuki Jinja Shrine
Address |
561-1 Kosei-cho, Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture (Inside Okazaki Park) |
Hours |
Tatsuki Jinja Shrine 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Okazaki Castle 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (last entry, 4:30 pm) |
Closed |
Tatsuki Jinja Shrine Open daily Okazaki Castle Dec. 29–31 |
Cost |
Tatsuki Jinja Shrine Free of charge Okazaki Castle Adult, 200 yen; child, 100 yen |
Phone |
Tatsuki Jinja Shrine 0564-21-5517 Okazaki Castle 0564-22-2122 |
Access |
On foot from Meitetsu Higashi Okazaki Sta., about 15 min |
Web site |
Tatsuki Jinja Shrine http://home1.catvmics.ne.jp/~tatuki/ Okazaki Castle https://travel.okazaki-kanko.jp/en/about |
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