Nogi Jinja : Shiobara-Shi Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture

Nogi Jinja : Shiobara-Shi Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture – ノギジンジャ (栃木県那須塩原市 : 乃木神社) –

Table Of Contents

• Location of Nogi Shrine
• The history of Nogi Shrine
• General Nogi (Nogi Maresuke=乃木 希典-のぎ まれすけ)
• Summer pilgrimage(夏詣:なつもうで）
• Nogi Shrine Recording and Goshuin
• Fortune slip(OMIKUJI おみくじ)
• Around Nasu Nogi Shrine

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Shiobara-Shi Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture: Nogi Jinja　～ ノギジンジャ（栃木県那須塩原市：乃木神社）～

The history of Nogi Shrine

• Divine virtue(Goshintoku=御神徳) – Academic and athletic excellence(Bun buryōdo=文武両道). marital harmony(Fū fuwa gou=夫婦和合) .Tokukan Agriculture(Do toku kan’nō=土徳勧農)
• Enshrined deity(Go-sa ijin=御祭神) – Nogimaresukenomikoto
  (乃木希典命 ノギマレスケノミコト)
• Arrangement(Haishi=配祀) – Nogishizukonomikoto(乃木静子命 ノギシズコノミコト)

Nogi Shrine enshrines Nogi Maresuke and his wife, who are still affectionately known as General Nogi.The Shogun and his wife had a villa to the northeast of the shrine, and they stayed there during their several periods of leave from work. They said, “Agriculture is the foundation of the country,「農は国の大本なり」” and set an example by cultivating the fields themselves, encouraging agriculture. They also had friendly relationships with the local residents of Sekirin, and spent their days farming and reading in the sun and rain.

The reason why I visited is…
(;^ω^)I happened to pass by it and saw a goshuin (temple seal), because it was a shrine I had never heard of before.

I have a website aimed at overseas audiences, and I use full-width Japanese kanji characters on the English pages without regard for SEO. When Japanese kanji are written in roman letters, they become “Nogi Jinja,” with Nogi (乃木)meanings such as Nogi(野木), Nogi(芒), and Pampas grass, all of which have different meanings.
All I knew was Nogi(野木) Town in southern Tochigi Prefecture, and I had never heard of Nogi (乃木)Shrine in Nasu-Shiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture, which was what prompted me to go there.

What is Natsumode(夏詣)?（Summer pilgrimage）

Natsumode is a new Japanese custom that is similar to hatsumode (first visit of the New Year) and involves visiting shrines and temples after July 1st, which marks the halfway point of the year, to give thanks for the safety of the past six months and pray for peace and good health for the remaining six months.
(I didn’t know(;´･ω･))
It was first proposed by Asakusa Shrine [Posts about Asakusa Shrine can be found here ] in Tokyo in 2014 and is now spreading nationwide.
This annual event follows the Nagoshi no Oharae (summer purification ritual) held on June 30th, and is a new custom to help people get through the summer. It is held until the end of July or the end of August, and the timing and whether it is held or not varies depending on the shrine.
There were several summer goshuin stamp papers for the “Summer Pilgrimage” to Nogi Shrine.

(*´Д｀)There were also a variety of regular goshuin stamps, so I had a hard time deciding which one to get.

After some hesitation, I decided to go with the Nogi Shrine bookkeeping stamp (number 4) and the July summer night sky stamp, since I probably won’t be coming here often and it’s summer.

There may be some people who visit a shrine but don’t receive a goshuin stamp, and some people who collect all the different types of goshuin stamps, but I think it’s the feeling that counts.
The basic feelings are gratitude and awe, and through these feelings one can purify the mind and body, seek peace, and cherish a heart of gratitude to God in daily life.
This feeling is also expressed in everyday words such as “thanks to you” and “itadakimasu” (thank you for the meal), and it is said that the significance of shrines lies not only in conveying wishes but also in conveying gratitude for the blessings we receive every day.
I am an atheist, but I try to be respectful of the place.

Fortune slip (O mi kuji = おみくじ)

Normally, when I visit a shrine, I don’t buy fortune slips or amulets, but this time, for some reason, I was drawn to the idea of ​​fortune slips, so I picked the one on the far left, which is a good luck charm.
I didn’t really understand, so I put 300 yen in it, took one, and opened it at home.
The good luck charm case contains one of the following lucky charms (rake and gold coins”熊手と小判”, Daikoku”大黒”, Ebisu”恵比寿”, beckoning cat”招き猫”, mallet”小槌”, safe frog”無事蛙”, Zenikame=money turtle”銭亀”, or Daruma”達磨”), and you cannot choose one.
Please keep them in your wallet or other place at all times.
The card I drew was “Zenikame.”

For more information about the shrine, please check the Nasu Nogi Shrine website or the Nogi Shrine newsletter.

https://www.nasu-nogijinja.jp/那須 乃木神社: Home page 
https://nasu-nogijinja.jp/blog/乃木神社通信 : 那須塩原市石林鎮座 

Around Nasu Nogi Shrine(那須 乃木神社 周辺)

There is a row of cherry blossom trees about 600 meters long along the approach to the shrine.
In mid-April, when the flowers bloom, it becomes a famous cherry blossom viewing spot and many people visit.Old trees are being gradually replaced.
The festival is held every year on September 13th.

There are many spots around Nogi Shrine where you can experience history and nature.
In addition to the Nasunogahara Museum Roadside Station, Karasugamori Park, and the day-trip hot spring “Taiyo no Yu,” you can also enjoy horseback riding at Nasu Senbonmatsu Ranch, sightseeing in the Nasu Highlands, and shopping at Nasu Garden Outlet.
The grounds of Nogi Shrine are also home to the Nogi Villa and the clear stream of the Mitarai River, and the lush green scenery is also an attraction.
This time (late July 2025), I only visited the shrine, but next time I go I would like to explore the surrounding area as well.

I would also like to update this article if I gather new information when I visit the surrounding areas or worship at shrines.

Thank you for watching.