The interior of Kirishima Jingu Shrine is intentionally more luxurious than the exterior, designed to make a magnificent abode for the gods. The dragon pillars and murals inside have been designated as national treasures. Even the shrine’s staff seldom see the inside, but those who have described it as “awe-inspiring.”
From the worship area, you can observe the main hall behind it. If you look closely, you’ll notice that the shrine is built on lava. Lava from the Ohachi crater, located on the west side of Mt. Takachiho-no-Mine, once flowed up to this spot. Although it would have been safer to build the shrine closer to the foot of the mountain, the builder’s strong faith prompted him to construct it as close as possible to Mt. Takachiho-no-Mine, the sacred site of the heavenly grandson’s descent.
Kirishima Jingu Shrine has been relocated each time the Kirishima volcanoes erupted, with its current location established in the 15th century. Despite being burned down several times since then, the shrine building, constructed about 300 years ago with donations from the lord of the Satsuma Domain, still stands today. This building is positioned exactly along a straight line connecting the lord’s castle to Mount Takachiho, further reflecting the deep faith in Kirishima.
Photo 1: Kirishima Jingu Shrine Main Hall
Photo 2: Shrine building standing on lava
Photo 3: Sacred tree with strong spiritual forces
