Amakashi-niimasu Shrine

An ancient shrine at the foot of Amakashi Hill

This shrine stands in the village of Toyura at the western foot of Amakashi Hill. It is an old shrine, listed as "Amakashi-niimasu Shrine, four deities" in the shrine register of the Engishiki (a code of court procedures compiled in the early 10th century, whose shrine register lists the officially recognised shrines). There are several theories about which deities it enshrines.

The shrine buildings stand quietly with the hill behind them, and visitors are few. It is at the start of the path up Amakashi Hill, so you can stop by before climbing.

Kukatachi

The shrine is known for a ritual called kukatachi (盟神探湯).

It was an ancient form of trial in which people were made to put their hands into boiling water: it was believed that the honest would not be scalded and the liars would. The Nihon Shoki (Japan's oldest official chronicle, compiled in 720) records, in its account of Emperor Ingyō, that kukatachi was held on Amakashi Hill to set right confusion over clan names and ranks.

Today it is held as a ritual every April in front of the standing stone in the shrine grounds. Water is boiled in a cauldron and bamboo-grass leaves are dipped in it and shaken over the participants. Nobody actually puts their hands into the water.

A way of deciding the truth

Judging truth and falsehood by putting a hand into hot water was not an idea unique to Japan. Similar practices existed in many parts of the world.

Rather than gathering evidence and arguing, people handed the judgement to something beyond themselves. This ritual is a reminder that the Asuka age still stood in that kind of place.

The standing stone

In the grounds stands a stone called the Tateishi ("standing stone"), counted among the many mysterious stone objects scattered around Asuka. The kukatachi ritual is performed in front of it.

Visiting

About 5 minutes on foot from the "Amakashi-no-oka" stop on the Asuka loop bus from Kintetsu Kashiharajingu-mae Station. You are free to visit.

The Toyura Palace Site (Kōgen-ji Temple) and the Komiya Site are close by, so you can explore the Toyura area together.