Ikoma Taisha Shrine
Its formal name is Ikomaniimasu-Ikomatsuhiko Shrine, and it is also called Ikoma Shrine.
In the old days, it had two presiding deities, Ikomatsu-Hiko and Ikomatsu-Hime.
However, the worship of Hachiman became popular, and it came to enshrine Hachiman as well, who was called upon in the vicinity.
He is worshiped as the guardian deity of 17 villages in the Ikoma valley, and at the Fire Festival held in the autumn, the Shinto ritual is performed as a competition between parishioners divided into an upper and a lower deity team.
The festival is also called a “Contest Festival.”
