Introduction
This shrine has a long and storied history, and was built around the time when Futami Kaganosuke Shigeyuki and others developed Yugawara, during the reign of Emperor Tenji about 1,300 years ago.
There is an anecdote that when an army was raised in Izu by the founder and first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate, Minamoto no Yoritomo, a powerful local clan leader named Sanehira Jiro Doi guided Yoritomo’s army to the Doi estate, and in front of Gosho Shrine led a great prayer for victory in support of his lord.
As Yugawara’s premier “power spot,” this venerable shrine boasts an estimated 850-year-old, 36-meter-high sacred tree, which creates a serene, dignified atmosphere. The tree is an impressive 15.6 meters in root circumference, and an inner section of the trunk has decayed and subsequently been reinforced with concrete. A guardian deity is housed within it.
| Charges | Free of charge |
|---|---|
| Access | 359 Miyashita, Yugawara Town - Take the bus for Oku-Yugawara/Fudodaki from Yugawara Station, and get off at Gosho Jinja Bus Stop (about a 4-minute bus ride). |
