Ichinomiya Nukisaki Shrine

Ichinomiya Nukisaki Shrine (一之宮貫前神社) is a Shinto shrine in Tomioka, Gunma Prefecture, the first-ranked shrine of the former Kozuke Province. The principal kami are Futsunushi-no-Kami, recorded in the Nihon Shoki (720 CE) as the deity who, with Takemikazuchi, demanded the surrender of the Central Land of Reed Plains from Okuninushi, and Hime-Okami, a local goddess not appearing in the Kojiki or Nihon Shoki. The shrine is famous for its rare "descending shrine" (kudari-miya) layout, where worshippers descend a stone stairway from the gate to the main hall below. According to shrine tradition, it was founded in 531 CE, and the current main hall, worship hall, and tower gate were built by Tokugawa Iemitsu in 1635 and are designated Important Cultural Properties. The shika-ura divination rite on 12 December, scorching deer scapulae to read omens, preserves the ancient futomani tradition of the Jingi-kan.