日本で初めての征夷大将軍【坂上田村麻呂】を祀る田村神社へ参拝。
野洲川（やすがわ）の支流田村川沿いにあり、閑静な森の中にある古社。平安時代初期、坂上田村麻呂（さかのうえのたむらまろ）を祭神として創建されたといいます。明治時代の初め、付近の氏神を廃してここに合祀（ごうし）して以来、現在の壮大な姿になりました。
広大な神域は深い樹林に囲まれ、一見して社域と思わせる景観をなしています。大きな銅の鳥居をくぐって、森の中の参道を歩いていくと正面に見えるのがるのが舞殿で、その奥にあるのが、拝殿と本殿です。拝殿は、軒回りや天井下に花鳥の彫刻があり、拝殿としては規模の大きなものです。本殿は、向拝に牡丹と孔雀、そして鳳凰（ほうおう）を彫刻してあり、県下の江戸時代の社殿としては、注目すべき建築です。
田村麻呂の鬼退治の伝説にまつわる「厄よけの神」としても有名で、毎年2月18日を中心に3日間、神社の大祭が盛大に行われ、数十万人の人々で賑います。
田村麻呂の鬼退治の伝説には、鏡岩の伝説が残されています。鏡岩は鈴鹿峠を三重県側に少し下ったところにある大岩です（三重県指定天然記念物）。むかし、鈴鹿峠に一匹の鬼が住んでいて、峠を通る旅人の姿が鏡岩にうつるたびに捕らえて食べてしまいました。これを伝え聞いた坂上田村麻呂が鈴鹿へやってきて鬼を弓で射ると、矢を受けた鬼は岩の上にころがり落ちて息が絶えたということです。この日が２月１８日だったので、田村神社の厄除祭は２月１８日を中心に３日間行われ、厄除けの符として矢が用いられるようになったのだといいます。
所在地
甲賀市土山町北土山470
アクセス
公共交通機関
JR草津線 「貴生川」 下車 バス 30分 田村神社
車
名神竜王ICから約40分
駐車場
普通車 1000 台
お問い合わせ
田村神社
TEL
0748-66-0018
This ancient shrine is located in a quiet forest along the Tamura River, a tributary of the Yasu River. It is said to have been founded in the early Heian period with Sakanoue no Tamuramaro as its deity. At the beginning of the Meiji period, the local guardian deity was abolished and enshrined here, and since then it has taken on its current magnificent appearance.
The vast sacred grounds are surrounded by deep forests, creating a landscape that at first glance makes it seem like a shrine. Passing through the large copper torii gate and walking along the approach through the forest, you will see the dance hall directly ahead, and behind that are the worship hall and main hall. The worship hall is large for a worship hall, with carvings of flowers and birds around the eaves and under the ceiling. The main hall has carvings of peonies, peacocks, and phoenixes on the veranda, making it a noteworthy piece of architecture for an Edo period shrine building in the prefecture.
It is also famous as a “god of protection from misfortune” associated with the legend of Tamuramaro’s demon slaying, and every year the shrine holds a grand festival for three days around February 18th, attracting hundreds of thousands of people.
The legend of Tamuramaro’s demon slaying includes the legend of Kagamiiwa. Kagamiiwa is a large rock a little way down the Suzuka Pass towards the Mie Prefecture side (designated as a natural monument by Mie Prefecture). Long ago, a demon lived at Suzuka Pass, and whenever a traveler passing through the pass saw his reflection in Kagamiiwa, he would capture and eat them. When Sakanoue no Tamuramaro heard about this and came to Suzuka, he shot the demon with his bow, and the demon, hit by the arrow, rolled onto the rock and died. As this day fell on February 18th, the Tamura Shrine’s festival to ward off misfortune is held for three days around February 18th, and it is said that arrows came to be used as a talisman to ward off misfortune.
Location
470 Kitatsuchiyama, Tsuchiyama-cho, Koka City
Access by public transport
Get off at “Kibugawa” on the JR Kusatsu Line, then take the bus for 30 minutes to Tamura Shrine
Car
Approx. 40 minutes from Meishin Ryuo IC
Parking
1000 regular cars
Inquiries
Tamura Shrine
TEL0748-66-0018
#japan #滋賀県 #神社