【東京羽村市　武蔵阿蘇神社】東京になぜ阿蘇宮が！？推古天皇の御代に何があったのか！？平将門公も！

【東京羽村市　武蔵阿蘇神社】東京になぜ阿蘇宮が！？推古天皇の御代に何があったのか！？平将門公も！

Hello everyone! This is the Tocomama Information Bureau. Last time, I visited Inatari Shrine in Akiruno City, Tokyo . I was also interested in a shrine about 15 minutes away by car, so I decided to visit. This city is part of another city called Hamura, which is apparently the city with the smallest population in Tokyo (54,126 people, including foreigners, as of January 1, 2025) . Indeed, the natural beauty here is unmistakable , and the river you see there is the Tama River. It’s a completely different experience from the Tama River I usually see in Setagaya or Kawasaki . The shrine I’d like to introduce to you today is Musashi Aso Shrine , located in such a tranquil place . When you say “Aso,” you probably mean Aso in Kumamoto. I also visited Mount Aso when I was in Kyushu, and did a bit of research on Aso Shrine. I wonder if there’s any connection between the two. Musashi Aso Shrine is said to have a long history, so I’m looking forward to seeing what it’s like! : Now, let’s head up to the temple grounds. Truly untouched by nature! There, I came across something that looked like a shrine… oh, I saw a stone lantern, so I wondered if it was there? In this scenery, I searched for it for a moment, wondering where it was. And there it was ! Amazing ! There was a bamboo grove, and a red lantern… a torii gate!? Excuse me. This lantern is very impressive . There was also a stone monument. Village Shrine Aso Shrine This wooden torii gate is very tasteful. Now, let’s continue. The main shrine building is in sight! Isn’t it a very impressive main shrine building? Wow, I’m amazed! The temple grounds are spacious here. Chozuya (purification fountain) This is a very unusual water basin. There are characters…Chinese poetry? They are engraved on it. Look! This ladle too! I’ve never seen one before. Bamboo! A bamboo ladle with a real charm! Musashi Aso Shrine is an ancient shrine believed to have been founded in 601 during the reign of Empress Suiko. While there are approximately 500 Aso shrines nationwide, with Aso Shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture as its head shrine , this shrine is one of only two outside of Kumamoto Prefecture. During the Yamato period, there was a great migration of people, and the Aso clan migrated eastward to spread Aso culture. During the reign of Empress Suiko, heavy rains caused the Tama River to flood, and it is said that the Aso gods subsided. The shrine enshrines twelve deities, including Takeiwatatsu-no-Mikoto, the great deity of Aso. In ancient times, the shrine was called Aso Daimyojin or Nagabuchi-go Sosha Ryusui-san Aso-miya , but was renamed “Aso Shrine” during the Meiji period. According to the shrine’s legend, the main shrine building was constructed by Taira no Masakado. After defeating Masakado, Fujiwara no Hidesato planted a chestnut tree when he restored the building to appease his spirit . This way, there’s a path called the “Higashi-sando.” At first glance, this path seems wider and easier to enter. I’ll also show you the way from this side. There’s also a large stone monument here. It’s impressive, isn’t it? The Higashi-sando Renovation Monument also has a nice history inscription, so it seems like this was the main path. There are also a row of large stone lanterns. This isn’t the main path; the eastern path was renovated to make it easier to access from a wide residential street, so the torii gate is large and the path is spacious. In fact, when I was visiting, most people entered from the Higashi-sando. It’s a beautiful large wooden torii gate . You can really see its size by comparing it to me. Just past the torii gate is an old building. At first, I thought it might be a Kagura hall, but there was a plaque reading “Aso Shrine” hanging there, and a bell hanging from it. This is the former worship hall, but it still has an altar and offering box inside, suggesting it is a branch shrine where people can pray. The sunlight streaming in from behind the main shrine creates a truly divine atmosphere. Continuing further, the main shrine comes into view. The grounds are covered in greenery, and the breeze from the Tama River blows through, creating a very pleasant atmosphere. I have never visited Aso Shrine in Kumamoto, but on a previous visit to Mount Aso, I went to the crater, considered the sacred object of the Aso gods . The crater pool has long been called the “sacred pond” and has been the subject of national prayers. I also watched a video of prayers being offered to the sacred crater, and was amazed by the ancient Japanese belief that gods reside in the volcanic crater . Musashi Aso Shrine, where the Aso gods are enshrined , is where the power of the Aso gods is used to calm the Tama River and protect people. The main hall, which was rebuilt in 1678 and is designated a cultural property by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, is currently protected by a protective wall and cannot be viewed. It’s said to have been deeply protected by the Tokugawa family, and this is evidence of this . To the rear left of the main hall, there’s a huge sacred tree. It’s a little difficult to get to, but there’s a sign, so I think it’s okay to go inside. This is it. There’s a sign that says “Shii of Aso Shrine.” It’s a chestnut tree. It’s a “shii tree” designated as a natural monument by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. It’s a Castanopsis cuspidata tree, estimated to be 800 to 1,000 years old, with a trunk circumference of 6.1 meters and a height of approximately 18 meters. It’s said to have been hand-planted by Fujiwara no Hidesato when he constructed the shrine . Its appearance seems to be protecting the main hall from the Tama River. Hamura City is the end point of the Tama River Cycling Road, a roughly 50-kilometer stretch that runs from Ota Ward. During the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the Tama area of ​​Tokyo will be the stage for the bicycle road race. For the first time, Hamura City was included on the course for “THE ROAD RACE TOKYO TAMA 2025,” with world-class athletes racing through the city. As befits such a city of bicycles, Aso Shrine offers cute bicycle charms like this one, attracting many bicycle enthusiasts. While I was there, there were several people cycling. It must be a wonderful experience to cycle along the banks of the Tama River. From now on, whenever I see the Tama River near my hometown, I ‘ll be able to think back to this view and Musashi Aso Shrine, 50 kilometers away . What did you think of Musashi Aso Shrine? The Tama River flows right next to the shrine , and the sound of the river echoes throughout the area. The shrine grounds are lush and beautiful. I was surprised by how magnificent the shrine building was. It has a long history dating back to the time of Empress Suiko , and I was surprised to learn that it’s also associated with Taira no Masakado . I was so glad to have had the opportunity to worship here! I came to Hamura City for the first time today without thinking about the season, but I came to the riverbank because I heard that the flowers are in full bloom right now . Well, take a look! These are red spider lilies. They’re in full bloom right now, and they’re amazing! They’re blooming so beautifully! I wonder if you can tell from the picture. They’ve been blooming all along the river. Some people have come to see the flowers, others to take photos, and it ‘s like a seasonal feature of Hamura. So beautiful! Red spider lilies bloom all over the slopes of the Tama River bank. Apparently , they’re in full bloom a little later than usual this year. Perhaps it’s because of the intense heat. The long, hot summer is finally over, and the sight of the cluster amaryllis makes me feel even more like autumn. I strolled along the bank for a while, enjoying the view. I’m glad I arrived in Hamura City just in time for the cluster amaryllis to bloom ! It’s really just a stone’s throw from here, and there seems to be a lovely cafe there, so I’ll stop by! Nestled in the middle of the rice paddies along the bank is a quaint old house called “Nonbiri Cafe Nakagurashi Suishagoya.” It used to be a soba restaurant, but the owner had to close due to advanced age. The current owner, a friend, took over and opened it as a new cafe. It’s in a great location, right in front of the rice paddies, where tulips bloom in the spring . It has a lovely, idyllic atmosphere. The interior has been preserved in the original style of the old house, and local specialties and accessories are sold. The cafe space, a tatami room in the back , has a retro atmosphere, like being transported back to the early Showa era . There’s also a terrace, where you’ll find the “Waterwheel” (Mizuguruma), which gives the cafe its name. It was apparently disabled due to recent weather damage. While the menu offers lunch options, since the red spider lilies are in full bloom this time of year, I decided to try their seasonal specialty, “Ohagi.” They offer a variety of flavors, including smooth bean paste with butter, kinako bean paste, white bean paste, and zunda. I chose the “An Butter” ohagi, a rare treat. It features a square of butter on top of the glossy smooth bean paste. It looks delicious ! The smooth bean paste is incredibly smooth, with a natural sweetness perfectly complemented by the saltiness of the butter. It was incredibly delicious! I’d love to try their other flavors, such as kinako bean paste, zunda bean paste, chestnut, and the popular one-piece lunch if I have the chance ! I also had a great time chatting with the female owner, who runs the cafe by herself, and it seems to be a popular place for locals to relax. I’m envious of having such a wonderful cafe nearby.

#神社巡り #japanshrine #東京の神社 #パワースポット #阿蘇神社

着物で神社巡り♪tocomamaです。
東京に阿蘇神社があると聞いて、行ってきました！
推古天皇の御代に何があったのか！？

⛩「武蔵阿蘇神社」
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JR青梅線・羽村駅または、小作駅駅タクシーにて約5分（徒歩20分）

参拝の後は・・・
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