Keya Kurotatsu Shrine in Fukui

The Black Dragon Shrine, one of Japan's power spots

Takako Sakamoto Nov 07, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>A painting of the Black Dragon displayed on the shrine grounds</p>

<p>From Fujishima Shrine, located halfway up the mountain, you should go down the long stone steps to reach Kurotatsu Shrine</p>

<p>On the way down to Kurotatsu Shrine, the beautiful roofs of the shrine buildings come into view first</p>

<p>Small Buddha carved in a stone pillar</p>

<p>Roof ornaments behind a sacred tree</p>

<p>Front view of Kurotatsu (Black Dragon) Shrine in Fukui</p>

<p>Wooden signage of Kurotatsu Shrine</p>

<p>Golden roof ornaments under the setting sun</p>

<p>Black dragon statue at the water purification font</p>

<p>Purple curtain hanging at the entrance of the prayer hall</p>

<p>The entrance torii gate of Kurotatsu Shrine</p>

<p>Looking up at the prayer hall of Kurotatsu Shrine through green willow trees</p>

<p>The flags of Kurotatsu Shrine also feature the Black Dragon</p>

<p>Small red flowers and the stone torii gate of Kurotatsu Shrine</p>

At the eastern foot of Mount Asuwa, there is a shrine called 'Keya Kurotatsu Shrine' in Fukui city. Kurotatsu literally means 'Black Dragon'. Although the exact date of its foundation is unknown, this Shinto shrine was built in ancient times to quell the rioting Kuzuryu River (Kuzuryu means nine-headed dragon) as well as to be one of the four shrines of Japan which guard the country from the four directions:

East: Kashima Shrine in Ibaraki,
West: Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima,
South: Kumano Shrine in Wakayama,
North: Kurotatsu Shrine in Fukui.

I didn't know there was such an important shrine in my neighborhood! The Black Dragon here is said to have strong power to dispel evil spirits. This shrine is known as one of the Power Spots of Japan!

More info

Find out more about Keya Kurotatsu Shrine.

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...