Sakurai (桜井市) is a city in Nara, Japan.  As of April 1, 2012, the city had an estimated population of 59,530 with a density of 602 persons per sq. km.  The total area is 98.92 sq. km.  The city was founded on September 1, 1956.
  Sakurai is home to Omiwa-jinjya Shrine (大神神社), traditionally considered one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan dedicated to the god of sake.  Sake dealers across Japan often hang a wooden sugi ball, made at Omiwa-jinjya Shrine, as a talisman to the god of sake. It features in Yukio Mishima (三島由紀夫)'s novel Runaway Horses (『奔馬』 1967).  (Referred to the site of "Wikipedia")
  
  
  Yamanobe-no-Michi (山の辺の道) is one of the ancient roads of Yamato (大和の古代道路) which runs between the foot of Miwa Hill (三輪山, 467.1m) in the southeastern part of the Nara Bashin (奈良盆地) and the foot of Kasuga Hill (春日山; Hana-yama [花山] 497m or Mikasa-yama [三笠山]) in the northeastern part.  It is about 16 km long.  Originally the road was probably from Nara City to Miwa (三輪) [now Sakurai City] through Isonokami (石上) and Furu (布留) [now both in Tenri City].  This road is often mentioned both in Kojiki (『古事記』; the Records of Ancient Matters) and Nihon-shoki (『日本書紀』; the Chronicles of Japan).
  
  

Go to the Yamanobe-no-Michi Part I in the Tenri City page.
  

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Sumo-jinjya Shrine

Sumo-jinjya Shrine (相撲神社) is located at Anashi, Sakurai City (桜井市大字穴師). It enshrines Noni-no-Sukune (野見宿禰). It is a branch shrine of Anashinimasuhyouzu-jinjya Shrine (穴師坐兵主神社) (see below). This is the place where Noni-no-Sukune (野見宿禰) from Izumo (出雲) and Taima-no-Kehaya (當麻蹶速) from Taima Village, Yamato (大和国当麻邑; now Taima, Katsuragi City, Nara [奈良県葛城市當麻]) had a turn at sumo wrestling-match before 11th Emperor Suinin (垂仁天皇, BC 69-AD 70; r. BC 29-AD 70) according to the Chronicles of Japan (『日本書記』): They kicked each other until Nomi finally kicked Taima's waist to death. It is considered to have been the first sumo match. Nomi stayed here to serve the emperor. Later he invented "haniwa" (埴輪): earthenware figures lined about the exterior of some ancient Japanese burial mounds). The government began to use "haniwa" as grave goods of burial mounds so that people were relieved from the horrible ancient custom of martyrdom. His descendants worked as earthenware masters (土師職) and were granted their family name Haji-shi (土師氏).

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(Monday 10 October) Sumo-jinjya Shrine, Anashi, Sakurai City

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(Monday 10 October) Sumo-jinjya Shrine, Anashi, Sakurai City

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(Monday 10 October) Sumo-jinjya Shrine, Anashi, Sakurai City

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(Monday 10 October) Sumo-jinjya Shrine, Anashi, Sakurai City

Anashinimasuhyouzu-jinjya Shrine

Anashinimasuhyouzu-jinjya Shrine (穴師坐兵主神社) is located at 1065 Anashi, Sakurai City (桜井市穴師1065). it enshrines Hyozo-no-kami (兵主神), O-Hyozu-no-kami (大兵主神) and Wakamitama-no-kami (若御魂神/稲田姫命). The foundation date is unknown, although the official record (『正倉院文書』) suggests that it had a Shinto festival in AD 730 (天平2年).

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(Monday 10 October) Anashinimasuhyouzu-jinjya Shrine, 1065 Anashi, Sakurai City

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(Monday 10 October) Anashinimasuhyouzu-jinjya Shrine, 1065 Anashi, Sakurai City

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(Monday 10 October) Anashinimasuhyouzu-jinjya Shrine, 1065 Anashi, Sakurai City

Yamato-no-Aogaki

Yamato-no-Aogaki (大和の青垣; the Green Hills of Yamato) which is described in Kojiki (『古事記』; the Record of Ancient Matters): 倭は (Yamato ha) 國のまほろば (Kuni no Mahoroba) たたなづく (Tatanaduku) 青垣 (Ao-gaki) 山隱れる (Yama kakureru) 倭しうるはし (Yamato shi uruwashi) (Yamato is A far-off land [Utopia]. By multiple-layered Green fences Hills are hidden from view. Yamato is so beautiful.) (trans. Eishiro Ito)

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(Monday 10 October) Yamato-no-Aogaki (大和の青垣; the Green Hills of Yamato) along the Yamanobe-no-Michi, Sakurai City

Hibara-jinjya Shrine

Hibara-jinjya Shrine (桧原神社) is located at 1330-1 Miwa, Sakurai City (桜井市三輪1330−1) along the Yamanobe-no-Michi. It enshrines Amaterasu-Omikami (天照大神).

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(Monday 10 October) Hibara-jinjya Shrine, 1330-1 Miwa, Sakurai City

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(Monday 10 October) Hibara-jinjya Shrine, 1330-1 Miwa, Sakurai City

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(Monday 10 October) A view of Yamanobe-no-Michi near Hibara-jinjya Shrine

Kifune-jinjya Shrine

Kifune-jinjya Shrine (貴船神社) is located at Ojiri, Miwa, Sakurai City (桜井市大字三輪字尾尻). It enshrines Okamino-kami (淤加美神).

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(Monday 10 October) Kifune-jinjya Shrine, Ojiri, Miwa, Sakurai City

Yamanobe-no-Michi Hanamori

Yamanobe-no-Michi Hanamori (山辺の道 花もり) is a Japanese restaurant located at 222-4 Kayahara, Sakurai City (桜井市大字茅原222-4). The best restaurant along the yamanobe-no-Michi.

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(Monday 10 October) Yamanobe-no-Michi Hanamori, 222-4 Kayahara, Sakurai City

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(Monday 10 October) Yamanobe-no-Michi Hanamori, 222-4 Kayahara, Sakurai City

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(Monday 10 October) My lunch at Yamanobe-no-Michi Hanamori, 222-4 Kayahara, Sakurai City

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(Monday 10 October) My lunch at Yamanobe-no-Michi Hanamori, 222-4 Kayahara, Sakurai City

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(Monday 10 October) My lunch at Yamanobe-no-Michi Hanamori, 222-4 Kayahara, Sakurai City

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(Monday 10 October) My lunch at Yamanobe-no-Michi Hanamori, 222-4 Kayahara, Sakurai City

Omiwa-jinjya Shrine

Omiwa-jinjya Shrine (大神神社) is located at 1422 Miwa, Sakurai City (桜井市三輪1422). It is also called Miwa-myojin (三輪明神) and Miwa-jinjya Shrine (三輪神社). It enshrines Omononushino-Okami (大物主大神) or more precisely Miwa Hill (三輪山, 467.1m). It is considered to be the oldest Japanese shrine.

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(Monday 10 October) Omiwa-jinjya Shrine, 1422 Miwa, Sakurai City

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(Monday 10 October) Omiwa-jinjya Shrine, 1422 Miwa, Sakurai City

Miwa-yama Byodo-ji Temple

Miwa-yama Byodo-ji Temple (三輪山平等寺) is located at 38 Miwa, Sakurai City (桜井市三輪38). It was founded by Shotoku-taishi (聖徳太子), although the foundation date is unknown. it was a branch temple of Omiwa-jinjya Shrine before the Meiji Restoration (明治維新). It enshrines Shaka-nyorai (釈迦如来). It belongs to the Soto-shu (曹洞宗) sect of Buddhism.

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(Monday 10 October) Miwa-yama Byodo-ji Temple, 38 Miwa, Sakurai City

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(Monday 10 October) Miwa-yama Byodo-ji Temple, 38 Miwa, Sakurai City

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(Monday 10 October) Miwa-yama Byodo-ji Temple, 38 Miwa, Sakurai City

Place of the Introduction of Buddhism into Japan

This 3.8m-high monument indicates the Place of the Introduction of Buddhism into Japan (佛教傳来之地碑) at Kanayakasenjiki Park (金屋河川敷公園) along the Hatsuse-gawa River (初瀬川; the upper stream of 大和川), 10 minutes' walk from JR Sakurai Station (JR桜井駅). Buddhism was introduced into Japan here either AD 538 (宣化4年) or 552 (欽明13年), although the inscription takes the latter.

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(Monday 10 October) The stone monument indicating the Place of the Introduction of Buddhism into Japan at Kanayakasenjiki Park along the Hatsuse-gawa River, Sakurai City

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(Monday 10 October) The stone monument indicating the Place of the Introduction of Buddhism into Japan at Kanayakasenjiki Park along the Hatsuse-gawa River, Sakurai City

        

Copyright (c) 2011 Eishiro Ito.  All rights reserved.