Hello!
I love the Sengoku period, period dramas, and castles.
After seeing and hearing about the movie and song, I became interested in the popular Sengoku warlord Oda Nobunaga, so I started looking into whether there were any places in Yamagata Prefecture that were connected to Nobunaga.
Then I discovered that there is a shrine called Takeisao Shrine in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture, where Nobunaga is enshrined as the main deity! I immediately went to pay my respects there.

In this article, we will provide a report on our visit to Takeisao Shrine, as well as details about the “Konpeitou” candy we received along with the goshuin stamp.

Nobunaga is the enshrined deity! Why is Takeisao Shrine located in Tendo City?

There is actually a shrine in Kyoto called Takeisao Shrine, where Oda Nobunaga is enshrined as the main deity.
You may be wondering why there is a shrine with the same name in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture.

First, let’s look back at the relationship between Tendo City and the Oda clan, along with its turbulent history.

The relationship between Tendo City and the Oda clan – Introducing the history of the Tendo Oda clan

The history of the Tendo Oda Domain begins with Nobunaga’s second son, Nobukatsu.
After Nobunaga died in the Honnoji Incident, his eldest son, Nobutada, also committed suicide at Myokaku-ji Temple in Kyoto.

Nobutada’s eldest son, Hidenobu, was spared after the Battle of Sekigahara and entered Mount Koya. However, Hidenobu’s conversion to Christianity may have influenced his decision, and he was later banished from Mount Koya and is said to have died of illness.
The main line of blood died out here, and was passed on to the Tendo Oda Domain, which was descended from his second son, Nobuo.

However, after Nobunaga’s death, during the Toyotomi and Tokugawa eras, fearing that the Oda clan would rise to power again, he was given a high rank but a low stipend and treated coldly.
After that, although the Nobuo clan continued to have lords, they were forced to move their domains further and further away from the capital, and in 1831, the lord Nobuyoshi moved to Tendo, thus establishing the Tendo Oda Domain.

Why Nobunaga was enshrined as a deity

During the Meiji Restoration, the Oda clan in Tendo sided with the new government forces (official army), and in recognition of his achievements in the Boshin War, the clan’s lord, Oda Nobutoshi, was awarded the title of Viscount.
In response to this, Emperor Meiji bestowed the divine title of “Takeisao” on Oda Nobunaga, the founder of the domain, and in 1870 (Meiji 3), “Takeisao Shrine” was founded to enshrine Nobunaga.

By the way, there are only two shrines that worship Lord Nobunaga as their deity: Takeisao Shrine in Kyoto and Takeisao Shrine in Tendo.

A quiet shrine grounds with flags fluttering in the wind – A visit to Takeisao Shrine

Takeisao Shrine sits quietly in a residential area of Tendo.
The grounds had a calming atmosphere where time seemed to flow slowly.

Here we will introduce the grounds of Takeisao Shrine with photos.

Let’s head to the temple grounds! Let’s think of Lord Nobunaga…

The torii gate of c was located very close to the Yamagata Prefectural Youth Center.

It is located on the slopes of Mount Maizuru in Tendo City, so if you go through the torii gate from the bottom and head to worship, you will have to climb a few steps.

“Enshrines Lord Nobunaga, the founder of the Tendo Oda clan”

If you drive up to the middle of Mt. Maizuru, you will find a parking space right next to the shrine.
From there, you’ll have to walk up a gentle slope, but you can get there without using stairs, so if you’re not good with stairs, we recommend starting from the parking lot.

When I entered the temple grounds, I was surprised to find that it was smaller than I had imagined.

However, the grounds are somehow cozy and have a refreshing breeze blowing through them.
It’s located on the side of a mountain, so the wind probably blows from below.

The offering box had the meaning “Tenka Fubu” written on it.

↑There is also a family tree of the Tendo Oda clan.

↑Then, the history of Takeisao Shrine.

I visited the shrine, feeling the greatness of Nobunaga’s attempt to unify the country, something that no one else had done, and feeling grateful for the connection that Takeisao Shrine has with being located in Yamagata Prefecture.

I asked for a temple seal at the gift shop at the edge of the temple grounds, and as I sat in a chair to wait, the flag hanging above the shrine was flapping in the wind.

Bustle bustle…

I imagine that during the Sengoku period, military flags bearing family crests would have fluttered wildly like this…
Brandishing his sword, he shouted, “For Lord Nobunaga, here we go!”
For a moment I felt like I had traveled back in time.

A goshuin stamp featuring the handsome Nobunaga and “Kompeitō” candy!

Once the goshuin was completed, the priest gave us a pamphlet about Takeisao Shrine.

(Visited on June 9, 2019)

The cover of the pamphlet features a very handsome Nobunaga.
Apparently the portrait was drawn by a missionary, and a copy of it is displayed in the worship hall.

If you look closely, you will see this framed portrait at the top left corner of the worship hall.
According to the priest, this portrait is kept at Sanbo-ji Temple (Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture), the family temple of the Tendo Oda clan.

Every year around the time of the Honnoji Incident (June 2nd), a memorial service is held at Sanbo-ji Temple with the descendants and related members of the Tendo Oda clan!
It’s strange that on June 2nd of one year, I suddenly became interested in Oda Nobunaga, probably because that was the day of the Honnoji Incident.

and !

We were even given some large Konpeitō sweets, which Nobunaga is said to have loved.
I receive goshuin stamps at many shrines, but this was the first time I received one that also included offerings, so I was really impressed!

How to get to Takeisao Shrine

Takeisao Shrine is about a 15-minute walk from Tendo Station if you are traveling by train and on foot, or about 20 minutes by car from Yamagata Kita I.C.
There are slopes and stairs along the way, so it’s recommended to wear comfortable shoes.

While you’re there, you can also enjoy the seasonal azalea flowers.

Tendo Azalea Park, located within the grounds of Takeisao Shrine and next to the shrine office, is where around 10,000 azaleas bloom in full glory every year around mid-May.
The Azalea Village Festival is also held during this time, and the azaleas are lit up.
If you are planning to visit Takeisao Shrine, we recommend that you visit during this time and enjoy the azalea flowers as you walk around.

summary

Takeisao Shrine, located on Maizuruyama in Tendo City, is a shrine dedicated to Oda Nobunaga, the founder of the Oda clan, in honor of his final achievements.
It would be wonderful to quietly reminisce about the Sengoku period in the very quiet grounds, where the only sound you can hear is the flapping of flags.
If you ask for a goshuin, you will also receive some konpeitō, a sweet that Nobunaga loved!

Of course, this shrine is a must-see for history buffs and fans of Oda Nobunaga, but I also think it’s wonderful to be able to visit a shrine associated with Oda Nobunaga here in Yamagata, so I highly recommend it.