Sana Shrine

Sana Shrine, located in Nita, Taki Town, Taki District, Mie Prefecture, is a shikinai sha with the former rank of kensha. The principal deity is Ame-no-Tajikarao-no-Mikoto, enshrined as an attendant deity at the inner shrine of Ise Jingu. The shrine receives old timbers from the Ise Jingu shikinen sengu for its building renewals, marking a close ritual relationship with Ise. It stands on the southern hills of the middle Kushida River, about 15 km west of Ise Jingu, at the node connecting the shrine network. The site lies in the ancient Sana-no-Agata, historically a shoryo of the Jingu. The principal deity Ame-no-Tajikarao-no-Mikoto appears in the upper book of the Kojiki in the Amano-Iwato chapter, where he pulled open the rock-cave door and led Amaterasu out. The shrine venerates this deity, who is otherwise an attendant at the inner shrine of Ise, as its principal kami. Attendant deities include Aketatsu-no-Miko-no-Mikoto. The shrine is recorded in the Engishiki Jinmyocho as Sana Shrine of Taki District, Ise Province, confirming its early-Heian status as an official shrine. The old-timber transfers from the Ise shikinen sengu have continued into the modern era.