Tenso Shrine

Tenso Shrine sits on a quiet perch along the southeastern shore of Lake Kinrin. The shrine's origins trace back to Emperor Keikō, the 12th emperor of Japan, who commanded Hatsume-hime of Hayami District, Bungo Province, to enshrine the spirit of the imperial ancestor here. The shrine building faces the lake, with Tenso Kami enshrined at the center, Yasaka Shrine to the right, and Konpira Shrine to the left.

A stone torii gate rises from the surface of Lake Kinrin, shrouded in an extra air of mystique in the morning mists. Swing by to find a sacred cedar tree, designated as a natural monument, a pure spring flowing from the stone walls, and an elegantly crafted temizuya (purification fountain).

Tenso Shrine and Lake Kinrin are linked by a dragon god legend. According to the story, a dragon is said to have lost its way before praying to Tenso Kami for a place to reside. In return, the dragon vowed to bring forth a fresh spring and protect the land. Tenso Kami granted the dragon Lake Kinrin as a sanctuary, and to this day, clear water springs from both the lakebed and the shrine grounds, solidifying its reputation as a spiritual power spot.