Myogi Shrine

Myogi Shrine in Tomioka, Gunma, stands at about 440 meters on the slope of Mount Hakuun (1,104 m), one of the peaks of Mount Myogi, counted with Akagi and Haruna as the Joshu Three Mountains. The grounds preserve the older Hakoso Shrine as an inner sanctum and bear an elaborate Edo-period architectural complex. The main deities are Yamato Takeru no Mikoto, Toyouke no Okami, Sugawara no Michizane and Prince Naga, son of Emperor Go-Daigo. Nihon Shoki (720 CE) records Yamato Takeru's eastern campaign across the Kanto. Together with Akagi Shrine and Haruna Shrine, Myogi forms the Joshu Three Mountains pantheon. Shrine tradition places the founding in 537 CE under Emperor Senka. In the medieval period it was known as Myogi Daigongen, with Shugendo training facilities. The shogunate patronized the shrine and rebuilt the main complex in 1789; the resulting general gate, main hall, oratory, offering hall, karamon and bronze torii are Important Cultural Properties. It was renamed Myogi Shrine in the Meiji separation of kami and Buddhas and raised to prefectural rank in 1905. The April 15 reisai is the principal annual rite.