| Location | 5-706 Mozuakahata-cho, Kita-ku, Sakai City |
|---|---|
| Genre | Cultural Property、Historical Culture、Temple & Shrine |
It is said that this temple was constructed during Emperor Kinmei's period (532–571). The graceful precinct in a dense forest highlights the depth of its history. The trunk diameter and height of the giant camphor tree at the right front of the main shrine are 52 meters and 25 meters, respectively, and its age is said to be 700 or 800 years. This famous old tree is designated as a natural treasure of Osaka prefecture.
Moreover, the Moon Viewing Festival, celebrated around the day of the harvest moon (August 15 of the lunar calendar) every year in which dynamic futon daiko (a festival float mounting a large drum) feature is said to have become a festival of this shrine in combination with prayer for agriculture and a custom of celebrating the full moon. According to the records, this ceremony has more than 300 years of history. The float has five tiers of bright red cushions placed on top of the mounted taiko drum, and is approximately four meters in height and weighs three tons. About 70 people carry the futon daiko and walk through the street with a call of "be-ra be-ra bera shosshoi" and the sound of the taiko. It is then dedicated to the shrine.
