Keta Taisha

Keta Taisha, located in Jike-machi, Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture, is the ichinomiya of the former Noto Province. The principal deity is Onamuchi-no-Mikoto (identified with Okuninushi), recorded in the Okuninushi chapter of the upper book of the Kojiki as the chief kunitsu-kami who built the Central Land of Reed Plains. According to the Keta Jinja Engi, Onamuchi sailed from Izumo to Noto, subdued shape-shifting birds and a great serpent, and pacified the land, finally enshrining himself here. Kotoshironushi-no-Mikoto, recorded in the upper book of the Kojiki as Onamuchi's son, is also enshrined. It is recorded in the Engishiki Jinmyocho of 927 as Keta Shrine of Hakui District, Noto Province, a Myojin Taisha. Otomo no Yakamochi, governor of Etchu, mentions visiting Keta in a poem of 748 preserved in the Man'yoshu Book XVII. The shrine grove Irazu-no-Mori, a National Natural Monument, is a protected primeval forest. The Heikoku-sai on April 3, a six-day mikoshi pilgrimage across the Noto Peninsula, is the principal annual rite.