Itsukushima jinja Shrine
It is said that in the Houryaku era, a merchant from Matsumae, Denbei Murayama, founded the Benten Shrine, which was the local deity of Unjyoya.
After relocating to a new location, in 1893, Sokichi Shinoda IV, a shrine carpenter from Niigata Prefecture, took about two years to complete the main shrine, which is made entirely of zelkova, at its current location.
The front of the main hall is decorated with 77 carvings of lions and phoenixes, and the ceiling of the worship hall is decorated with Japanese paintings of flowers, birds, wind, moon, and dragons.
There are many valuable treasures such as a votive picture horse made in the late Edo period, a Chinese lion on the approach, and lanterns. In 1990, the main shrine was designated as the first tangible cultural property of Mashike Town.
In 2008, the main shrine building and seven votive picture frames were designated as Tangible Cultural Properties of Hokkaido.
