IZANAGI SANCTUARY JINGŪ
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It is said to be the oldest shrine in Japan, dedicated to the divine couple Izanagi and Izanami, creators of the archipelago. According to Japanese mythology, the island of Awaji would indeed be the first child of the couple. At the entrance of the temple, on the right, is a stone under which is engraved the Japanese anthem. The stone represents Japan, and through the words is the hope that the country will prosper long enough for the stone to turn to rock and become covered with moss. A little farther to the left, a large iron rod, like an arrow, indicates the direction of the North Pole. Traditionally, the temple is located to the north and the port to the south. Next to it, a large map of Japan shows the central place of Izanagi Shrine vis-à-vis the other shrines of the archipelago. To the right of the main temple, a camphor tree over 900 years old stands masterfully in front of the visitor. The trunk, which splits in two, represents man (left) and woman (right). The woman must therefore turn around the tree from the right and the man from the left. When the couple cross each other, the man must propose. During the great earthquake of 1995, the Izanagi Jingu Shrine was heavily damaged and then rebuilt. In 2004, nine kami statues were discovered. The representations of Izanami-no-mikoto are said to date from the Heian period in Kamakura. It takes about 30 minutes by car from Iwaya.
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