Shrine with an official rank? Takekomajinja, ranked as Shoichii!

After exiting Iwanuma Station, I walked to Takekomajinja, one of Japan's three major Inari shrines. The journey took about 15 minutes. Although not far, the strong winds along the way made the walk particularly challenging. Takekomajinja (竹駒神社) is the largest and most prominent Inari shrine in the Tohoku region of Japan, standing alongside Kyoto's Fushimi Inari and Ibaraki's Kasama Inari as one of Japan's three major Inari shrines. Established in 842 AD, it enshrines Uka-no-Mitama-no-Kami (Inari Okami), Uke Mochi-no-Kami, and Kuraokami-no-Mikoto, deities that protect agriculture, fishing, and commerce. The original worship hall was completely destroyed in a fire, and the current structure is a reconstruction. Next to the current worship hall, there is a staircase leading underground, which is the foundation left behind from before the fire. Descending the stairs, you can visit the inner shrine of Takekomajinja. This is quite rare; based on my past experiences visiting shrines in Kyoto, Tokyo, Nikko, and Mount Koya, it is uncommon for inner shrines to be open to the public for worship. The visitor rest area at Takekomajinja is filled with the scent of wood, reminiscent of the aroma in old swimming pool saunas or Korean jjimjilbangs. It creates a particularly relaxing atmosphere, even making you feel like lying down for a nap.