The guardian deity of Saijo, Higashihiroshima City, and the god of sake brewing enshrined in a subsidiary shrine

It is said that the local people prayed to the god Susanoo-no-Mikoto to stop a plague in the year 706. When the plague ended, they built a shrine to the god. The shrine was merged with Wakamiya Hachiman Shrine, Ebisu Shrine, Kanesaki Shrine, and Daijimen Shrine in 1912 and relocated to its present location. Since that time, the god has protected this land as Saijo’s guardian deity. The shrine is also known as a spot for cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in fall. Among the subsidiary shrines is Matsuo Shrine, which received a branch spirit from Matsunoo Taisha Shrine (Kyoto), one of the three major deities of sake in Japan. In November, when sake brewing begins, a prayer ceremony for the sake brewing season is held.