Goryo Shrine, located in Reianji-cho, Gojo City, Nara Prefecture, is an ancient Shinto shrine that has long served as the spiritual center of Goryo worship throughout the former Uchi District. It has been known by several honorific names, including Goryo Hongu, Goryo-gu Daimyojin, Shisho Goryo Daimyojin, and Uchi-gun Omiya. Formerly ranked as a prefectural shrine, it is regarded as the principal shrine among the many Goryo shrines found throughout Gojo City.
The shrine stands on the slightly elevated ground of Miyazaki, overlooking the Nyuu River. It enshrines the spirits of members of the imperial family, including Imperial Princess Inoue, and preserves a long tradition of religious devotion rooted in the history of the Nara period.
Goryo Shrine is dedicated to four deities collectively known as the Shisho Daimyojin, or the Four Great Goryo Deities. Each has a distinct connection with Japan’s imperial history.
Main Sanctuary: Imperial Princess Inoue
Imperial Princess Inoue was a daughter of Emperor Shomu and later became the empress consort of Emperor Konin. Her tragic life and death played a central role in the development of Goryo worship at the shrine.
Southern Side Sanctuary: Imperial Prince Osabe
Prince Osabe was the son of Imperial Princess Inoue and was appointed crown prince. He was later caught up in the same political turmoil that led to his mother’s downfall.
Northern Side Sanctuary: Imperial Prince Sawara
Prince Sawara was the younger brother of Emperor Kanmu. After his death, he was posthumously honored as Emperor Sudo. Like Princess Inoue and Prince Osabe, he became associated with the tradition of venerating the spirits of those who had suffered political injustice.
Auxiliary Shrine: Honoikazuchi-no-Kami
This deity is traditionally said to have been born to Imperial Princess Inoue during her exile. The associated shrine stands in Miyama-cho, across the Nyuu River from the main shrine.
Together, these four deities have been worshipped as the general guardian deities of the Uchi District for centuries, reflecting the deep connection between local religious traditions and the history of the imperial family.
Imperial Princess Inoue was born in 717 as a daughter of Emperor Shomu. At the age of five, she began serving as a Sai-o, a princess appointed to perform sacred duties at Ise Grand Shrine. She later became the consort of Shirakabe-no-O, who subsequently ascended the throne as Emperor Konin.
When Emperor Konin became emperor in 770, Princess Inoue was elevated to empress consort, and their son, Prince Osabe, was appointed crown prince. However, amid intense political rivalries at court, she was accused of practicing sorcery. She was deprived of her imperial position in 772 and accused of further magical wrongdoing the following year. She and Prince Osabe were confined to a residence in the Uchi District that had been confiscated by the government.
According to historical accounts, mother and son died on the same day in April 775. Their deaths were followed by a series of natural disasters and epidemics in the capital, which people feared were manifestations of the angry spirits of the deceased. The imperial court ordered Buddhist prayers to pacify their spirits.
In 800, Emperor Kanmu dispatched the imperial envoy Kuzui no Okimi to the Uchi District. Princess Inoue was posthumously restored to her rank as empress, her tomb was recognized as an imperial mausoleum, and Reianji Temple was established. Goryo Shrine is also believed to have been founded around this time. These events are regarded as an important beginning of the Goryo belief, the tradition of honoring and appeasing the spirits of those believed to have suffered unjust deaths.
In 1238, a dispute between the Yoshiwara and Makino families is said to have prompted the enshrinement of Goryo deities at ten additional locations within the district. Further branch shrines were established over time, allowing the faith to spread throughout the region.
Today, more than 20 Goryo shrines are known to exist in Gojo City, while this shrine retains its special position as the principal sanctuary. Local tradition even describes the entire former Uchi District as belonging to the shrine’s sacred domain, illustrating how deeply the belief became woven into the lives of the surrounding communities.
The present main sanctuary was constructed in 1637. Built in the traditional nagare-zukuri style, with a cypress-bark roof, the three-bay structure is richly decorated with polychrome details that reflect the ornate architectural traditions associated with the Momoyama period. It is considered the largest shrine building of its kind in the former Uchi District.
In 1954, the sanctuary was designated an Important Cultural Property of Nara Prefecture. Its elaborate design and long history make it an important example of the region’s religious architecture.
The shrine’s wider cultural heritage includes a wooden seated statue of the Goryo deity, believed to date from the late Heian period. Another notable treasure is a collection of 530 volumes of the Buddhist Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, with a colophon dated 1112. The sutras are preserved at Maniganji Temple and have been designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
The main annual festival takes place on the fourth Sunday of October. Festivities include a procession carrying the portable shrine, or mikoshi, and a ceremonial journey through Reianji. The event brings local traditions to life and reinforces the shrine’s continuing role in the community.
Another distinctive event is the Sekku Festival on October 9, when the shrine’s Wakamiya and Honoikazuchi deities are carried in procession to the main sanctuary. This ceremony is a cherished local tradition that reflects the close relationship between the principal shrine and its associated sanctuaries.
In spring, fresh greenery fills the shrine’s sacred woodland, while autumn brings the grounds to life with festival activity. The shrine remains not simply a historical monument but an active place of worship where centuries-old traditions continue to be observed.
Goryo Shrine is located at 2206 Reianji-cho, Gojo City, Nara Prefecture. From JR Gojo Station on the Wakayama Line, take a bus bound for Kido or Totsukawa and get off at the Reianji bus stop. The shrine is approximately a three-minute walk from the stop. It can also be reached on foot from the station in about 30 minutes.
Surrounded by mountains and the flowing waters of the Nyuu River, Goryo Shrine offers a quiet setting in which to reflect on the history of the Nara period and the origins of an important Japanese religious tradition. Its connection with Imperial Princess Inoue, its richly decorated main sanctuary, and its enduring annual festivals make it a valuable destination for anyone interested in Japanese history, Shinto beliefs, and regional culture.
A visit offers more than a glimpse of an old shrine: it reveals how historical memory, spiritual beliefs, and community traditions have been passed down through the generations in Gojo City.