Tosa Ichinomiya

Tosa Ichinomiya

Tosa Shrine is and was the ichinomiya, the highest-ranked shrine, of Tosa province, now Kochi.

It is located in the NE outskirts of Kochi City, right next to Zenrakuji Temple, the 30th on the Shikoku pilgrimage.

Most of the buildings were rebuilt by Chosokabe Motochika in the late 16th century. The drum tower in the first photo was built in the mid 17th century.

Themain kami is Ajisukitakahikone, said to be a son of Okuninushi and considered to be the ancestor of the Kano clan who ruled the area in the early days of the Yamato government.

Also enshrined here is Hitokotonushu, a kami connected to the Kamo clan in the Katsuragi area of old Yamato and also linked with En no Goja, the legendary founder of Shugendo from the same area. At his main shrine at the foot of the  Katsuragi mountains is is worshipped as a kami who delivers oracles consisting of a single word.