Kakinomoto Shrine is located in Katsuragi City, Nara Prefecture, and is dedicated to Kakinomoto no Hitomaro, one of the most celebrated poets of the Nara period and a major figure in the Man’yoshu, Japan’s oldest surviving poetry anthology. Revered in later generations as a poetic sage, Hitomaro holds an important place in Japanese literary history. The shrine is more than a historical site: it is a place where the traditions of waka poetry, religious devotion, and local history come together, attracting worshippers and lovers of Japanese literature.
Kakinomoto no Hitomaro was a court poet who served during the Asuka period. More than 400 poems attributed to him have been preserved in collections including the Man’yoshu and the Kokinshu. He has long been revered as a poetic sage, alongside the celebrated poet Yamabe no Akahito. Local tradition holds that Emperor Jito granted Hitomaro land in the Katsuragi area, where he is believed to have lived.
One poem associated with Hitomaro and the Katsuragi region evokes the mountains and the deep affection he felt for a loved one:
“Like clouds rising over Mount Katsuragi, where spring willows grow, whether standing or sitting, my thoughts are always of my beloved.”
The poem conveys a profound sense of affection and a delicate appreciation of the natural landscape. This poetic sensibility remains part of the atmosphere of Kakinomoto Shrine, where visitors can reflect on the world of the ancient Man’yoshu poets.
The origins of Kakinomoto Shrine are traditionally dated to 770. Kakinomoto no Hitomaro is believed to have died in 724 in Iwami Province, in what is now Masuda City, Shimane Prefecture. According to tradition, his remains were later reburied in Katsuragi, and a hall known as the Hitomaro-do was built beside the burial site. This is said to have marked the beginning of the shrine.
A mound known as the Hitomaro-zuka still stands beside the main sanctuary, quietly recalling the poet’s long-standing connection with this place. The shrine’s sacred image is traditionally said to be a statue of Hitomaro created by Shinzei, a Buddhist monk, and it has been venerated by generations of worshippers.
Adjacent to Kakinomoto Shrine is Yogenji Temple, a temple traditionally believed to have been founded in either 855 or 858 as a Buddhist temple associated with the shrine. During the centuries when Shinto and Buddhism were practiced together, the two institutions formed a shared center of religious devotion.
Although the Meiji-era separation of Shinto and Buddhism formally distinguished the two, their grounds remain connected today. Their close physical and historical relationship offers a valuable glimpse into the religious traditions that shaped Japan from ancient times through the early modern period.
Because Kakinomoto no Hitomaro is enshrined here, Kakinomoto Shrine has long attracted people praying for improvement in waka poetry. Poetry gatherings flourished during the Edo period. The 1670 collection Yamato Junreishu records the following verse, reflecting the shrine’s popularity among poets:
“Kakinomoto—what a gathering place for birds who sing poems!”
In the late Edo period, Nobuyuki Matsudaira, lord of the Koriyama Domain, erected a stone monument honoring Hitomaro. This helped further encourage ceremonial poetry gatherings held in his memory. Near the end of the Edo period, the scholar Okamoto Michimasa, known for his work in both Japanese classical studies and Confucian scholarship, is also said to have temporarily resided in the shrine’s administrative building. The shrine thus served as a center of literary and scholarly activity as well as religious worship.
On the 18th day of the third month of the old lunar calendar, a ceremony was traditionally held to pray for abundant harvests on the anniversary of Hitomaro’s death. During the observance, the bell and drums of Yogenji Temple were sounded, giving rise to the festival’s unusual name, Chinpon Kanpon Matsuri, inspired by the sounds of the instruments.
The bell and drums are no longer used in the ceremony, but Kakinomoto Shrine and Yogenji Temple continue to hold a joint religious observance every April 18. A spring festival is also held on the second Sunday of April, bringing together local residents and visitors.
South of the worship hall stands a stone monument honoring Hitomaro. It was erected in 1681 by Nobuyuki Matsudaira, lord of the Koriyama Domain, and its inscription was composed by Hayashi Seiu. The monument expresses the profound respect in which the poet was held.
A poetry monument on the grounds bears one of Hitomaro’s well-known poems about spring willows and clouds rising over Mount Katsuragi. Erected in 1977, it invites visitors to imagine the landscape through the eyes of a poet who lived more than a thousand years ago.
The grounds are also planted with several distinctive trees, including fude-gaki persimmons, the Mōtsue-zakura cherry tree, and yatsufusa plums. Their seasonal changes add to the peaceful atmosphere, making the shrine a pleasant place for a quiet stroll among nature and literary history.
From the late Heian period onward, Kakinomoto no Hitomaro came to be revered not only as a great poet but also as a spiritual figure believed to help people improve their poetic skills. During poetry gatherings, worshippers displayed an image of Hitomaro alongside his poems and prayed for his blessing in a practice known as Hitomaro Eigu. This form of devotion eventually spread throughout Japan.
The pronunciation of his name, Hitomaru, also inspired wordplay connecting it with expressions meaning “fire stops” and “a person is born.” As a result, Hitomaro was sometimes worshipped as a deity who protects against fires and supports safe childbirth. These traditions demonstrate how his influence extended beyond literature into the everyday lives and hopes of ordinary people.
Kakinomoto Shrine is just a short walk from Kintetsu Shinjo Station on the Kintetsu Gose Line, making it easy to visit while exploring Katsuragi City. Its peaceful setting offers an opportunity to experience the region’s history and the literary heritage of the Man’yoshu.
Kakinomoto Shrine preserves the legacy of Kakinomoto no Hitomaro while keeping alive the traditions of Japanese poetry and religious devotion. A visit offers a chance to connect with the poetic imagination and spiritual beliefs that have been passed down since the age of the Man’yoshu, amid the natural and historical landscape of Katsuragi.