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Hanazono Gorge, a major tourist spot in Kita-Ibaraki.
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Hanazono Shrine (花園神社) is in the scenic Hanazono Gorge in the mountainous interior of the city. It's not related to Hanazono Shrine in Shinjuku, Tokyo, but it's related to Hie Shrine in Akasaka.It belongs to the same family of Shinto shrines worshipping the mountain deity Sanno (山王) headquartered at Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine at the foot of Mt. Hiei in Shiga Prefecture.
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In Kita-Ibaraki, Hanazono Shrine's pregnant tree, now an object of worship for wannabe mothers and pregnant mothers for a safe childbirth. Near the first torii.
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About the pregnant tree. This tree's male partner and due date are unknown.
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Torii
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Romon Gate
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Romon Gate
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Romon Gate
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Romon Gate
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Ema prayer tablet
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Kaguraden
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Haiden worship hall. 拝殿
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Haiden worship hall. 拝殿
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Koma-zaru guardian monkeys (instead of dogs). 狛猿
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Kita-Ibaraki's Hanazono Shrine was patronized by the Tokugawa shoguns. It features the flamboyant architectural style called "gongen-zukuri" (権現造) with colorful, intricate wood carvings on shrine buildings. It's similar to the famous Toshogu Shrine in Nikko (Tochigi) dedicated to Ieyasu. Toshogu in Nikko is famous for the three monkeys: "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." 本殿
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Hanazono Shrine also has a version of the three monkeys here on the Honden shrine hall, but only half the mouth, only one ear, and only one eye are covered as you can see here.
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Covering only one ear.
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Covering only one eye.
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Hanazono Shrine priest.
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Gods worshipped by Hanazono Shrine includes Sanno, the mountain deity.
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Benzaiten Shrine.
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Walking to the famous cedar tree.
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Rare cedar with three trunks.
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Rare cedar with three trunks.
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About the cedar tree.
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