Hine Shrine

According to shrine legend, the shrine was destroyed by fire during the Tensho Period (1573-1593) and the shrine territory was confiscated by Hashiba Hideyoshi, but the shrine was rebuilt in 1602 by Toyotomi Hideyori, and has remained to this day.

The Makura Matsuri, an annual festival held in May, features a parade of colorful pillows on streamers through the villages, while the Gosha Ondo dance is dedicated during the Yumatsuri in July.

Hine Shrine is the only shrine in Japan, and one of the few in the nation, that protects pillows and beds. It is said to be a shrine for pillows. Today, the shrine awards pillow-shaped amulets.

Although the date of the shrine’s founding is not clear, according to shrine legend, it was called “Hineno,” meaning “the field where the gods of the sun (heaven) and the root (Hades) were enshrined” or “the field where the sun goddess Miko or the groundwork was made,” and the shrine was built here.

The shrine is one of the five Izumi shrines established in 716, and in 673, Muhenkoin (now Jigenin), a jingu-ji temple, was built adjacent to the shrine grounds.

In the main shrine, the deity is enshrined as a couple. These two children, working together as brothers, overcame many difficulties and united the nation of Japan for the first time.

The daughters of the village eventually began to make and dedicate “makura” (pillow) with a wish that they would have a fine child.

Oiseki Nature Park is adjacent to the shrine.