Ikaho Shrine and a Man’yō poem stone
Guests who stay with us walk the Stone Steps and pay a visit to Ikaho Shrine. The shrine stands at the top of the street. It is a historic shrine, known as Ueno-no-kuni Sannomiya.
The deity is of hot springs and of medicine. The precincts have a solemn air, and from there you can take in the whole onsen town.
Ikaho has nine Man’yō poem stones. One of them stands in the shrine precincts.
Ikahoro no / Yasaka no ide ni / tatsu niji no / arawaro made mo / sane o saneteba
Until the rainbow over the great weir at the foot of Mount Ikaho shows itself clearly — how fine it would be if we could sleep together that long. How I wish it would be so.
When you stroll the Stone Steps, please walk on to Ikaho Shrine. The shrine is also one of the four power spots near Ikaho. Its annual festival is part of the Ikaho Festival in September.