Sano Shrine (Miyazaki)

Sano Shrine, located in Kabamuta, Takaharu Town, Nishimorokata District, Miyazaki Prefecture, is an ancient shrine of the former Hyuga Province with a tradition of being the birthplace of Jinmu Tenno (Kanyamato-Iwarebiko-no-Mikoto) and one of the six Kirishima Rokusha Gongen. It stands at the northeastern foot of the Kirishima range, near the Oji-baru tradition site of Jinmu's birthplace. The Sano cedar avenue (a National Natural Monument) is a row of cedars several hundred years old. Adjacent stand Tsumakirishima Shrine and Kirishima Jingu, forming the cult landscape of Jinmu Tenno in Hyuga-Kirishima. The principal deity is Kanyamato-Iwarebiko-no-Mikoto (Jinmu Tenno), who appears in the eastern campaign chapter of the middle book of the Kojiki and whose Sano birthplace is named in the third book of the Nihon Shoki. Attendant deities include his consort Airatsuhime-no-Mikoto and Ameno-oshihomimi-no-Mikoto. According to tradition the shrine was founded at Jinmu's birthplace. It was developed as a Kirishima Rokusha Gongen site in the medieval period and patronized by the Satsuma Shimazu domain. The Sano cedar avenue planted from 1719 by Shimazu Yoshitaka is a National Natural Monument. The December annual rite is the chief festival.