By ando 
Katano City (Katano-shi), Osaka Prefecture. Those who associate this place name with “stars” are likely either well-versed in shrines and temples or drawn to mystical legends. This time, we delve into the charm of Hoshida jinja and its surrounding area, where a grand “star mystery” dating back to the Heian period breathes.
Basic Information about Hoshida jinja
Location: 2-5-14 Hoshida, Katano City, Osaka Prefecture
Enshrined kami: Omotezutsuo-no-mikoto, Nakazutsuo-no-mikoto, Sokozutsuo-no-mikoto (the three Sumiyoshi kami), Okinagatarashihime-no-mikoto (Empress Jingu)
Access: Approximately an 18-minute walk from Hoshida Station on the JR Gakken Toshi Line
Hoshida jinja has been revered as the ujigami (local guardian deity) of this area since ancient times. However, the true intrigue of this jinja lies, as its name suggests, in the legends surrounding “stars” and the mysteries hidden beneath the surface of history.
Did Kobo Daishi Kukai Summon Them? The Mystery of the “Falling Star Legend”
Indispensable when talking about Hoshida jinja is the “Falling Star Legend,” which dates back approximately 1200 years to the Heian period.
According to legend, during the Kōnin era (810-824), Kobo Daishi Kukai visited the land of Katano and chanted secret incantations in a cave at Shishikutsu-ji Temple. It is said that the Big Dipper then showered down from the heavens, splitting into three places and falling to the earth.
The places where these stars fell are called “Hatcho Misokoro,” and one of them is believed to be the goshintai (sacred object of worship), specifically the Yōgō-ishi (Shadow-Appearing Stone), of Hoshida Myoken-gu (Komatsu jinja), an auxiliary shrine located outside the main Hoshida jinja grounds.
Remarkably, recent research suggests the possibility that a meteorite actually fell in this region around 816 AD. This episode, where religion and science intersect – Kukai’s prayers and a meteorite fall – truly evokes the romance of history.
Vanished into the Shadows of History? The Mystery of the “Hidden Enshrined Kami”
Hoshida jinja holds another intriguing hidden story.
Currently, the Sumiyoshi Sanjin (the three Sumiyoshi kami) are enshrined in the honden (main hall). However, there is a tradition that long before that, Nigihayahi-no-mikoto, the ancestor of the Katano Mononobe clan, was enshrined here.
It is said that after the Mononobe clan lost their power struggle with the Soga clan, it became difficult to openly enshrine their ancestral kami. Therefore, it is theorized that the Sumiyoshi kami were brought to the forefront, effectively “hiding” the original deity. The “Old Shrine” (Katano-sha) within the precincts still quietly preserves traces of this, conveying the drama of history’s winners and losers to this day.
As a Pilgrimage Spot for the Anime “Your Name.”
Hoshida jinja and its auxiliary shrine, Hoshida Myoken-gu, have garnered attention among fans of the hit anime film “Your Name.” as a hidden seichi (pilgrimage site).
The theme of “the fall of Tiamat Comet” depicted in the film strongly overlaps with the local legend of “the descent of the Big Dipper” (a meteorite fall legend). This resonance has led many fans to visit, feeling it as a place where they can truly experience the world of the film.
In particular, the colossal iwakura (sacred rock formation) enshrined behind the haiden (hall of worship) at Hoshida Myoken-gu exudes an overwhelming presence, as if one has stepped into a scene from the movie.
Key Point for Visiting: The “Okage Toro” Lanterns Retaining Traces of the Edo Period
Upon entering the precincts, the first thing that catches the eye are the magnificent stone lanterns. These were erected during the Edo period, when “Okage-mairi” (mass pilgrimages to Ise Grand Shrine) were popular, and they are precious relics that convey the fervent faith of the people of that time to this day.
Hoshida jinja is not merely a regional guardian deity; it is a truly rare spot where cosmic legends, ancient Japanese political history, and even modern pop culture intersect. Why not visit and immerse yourself in the mystical atmosphere that will make you want to gaze up at the night sky?
Related Links and References
[1] Osaka’s Sacred Site! A Power Spot That Continues to Watch Over a Peaceful Life! Hoshida jinja Hoshida-ji Temple | Tomoko Shimokawa Official Blog “Let’s go to power spots! ♫” Powered by Ameba
https://ameblo.jp/tomo-chupi/entry-12866546087.html
[2] A Shinbutsu-shugo Shrine Where Stars Fell From the Sky – Visiting Hoshida Myoken-gu, Osaka (Part 1) | “Kokorone,” a Web Media by Soshan, a Specialty Store for Buddhist Altars and Tombstones
[3] 7 Shrines and Temples Related to Anime and Movies in Osaka Prefecture! Enjoy the World of the Work on a Seichi Pilgrimage | Hotokami
https://hotokami.jp/categories/experience/anime/osaka/
[4] History | Hoshida Myoken-gu – Land of the Descent of the Seven Stars
https://www.hoshida-myoken.com/%E3%81%94%E7%94%B1%E7%B7%B4/
[5] Shishikutsu-ji Temple Where Kukai Made Stars Fall | Fujii Mitsuru
https://note.com/fujiiman/n/naffd4530ace7
[6] First Walk! From Myoken-gu to Hoshida jinja
http://murata35.chicappa.jp/rekisiuo-ku/hatuaruki10/index.htm
[7] Osaka, Katano City The Starry Sacred Site Continuing from Heian Period “Hoshida Myoken-gu (Osaka)” | Guide to the Big Dipper Legend and the Charms of Tanabata and Star Festivals -Takumi Honpo Information Bureau [Takujo!]
[8] Shrine and Temple Walk | Hoshida Myoken-gu | Osaka, Katano City | Land of the Descent of the Seven Stars | xicano
https://note.com/xicano0814/n/nbdd13a414670
[9] History | Hoshida jinja – Enshrined in Katano City, Osaka Prefecture
https://www.hoshidajinja.com/history/
[10] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38FyYH7me88
[11] Hoshida jinja | Kamu Nakara no Michi ~Tenchi Yukyu~
https://ameblo.jp/keith4862/entry-12529570091.html
[12] Katano City, the Stage of the Falling Star Legend Related to Kukai. Rechallenging “Hoshida Myoken-gu,” One of the Hatcho Misokoro! ~There’s a Legendary Rock on the Mountaintop!~ – Katano Times
https://www.katano-times.com/archives/55719971.html
[13] Hoshida jinja and Hoshida Myoken-gu | Yakumo Enlightenment
https://en-light.net/archives/907
[14] Osaka Prefecture Shrine Agency Third Branch Hoshida jinja – Hoshida jinja
https://osakadai3shibu.kilo.jp/jinja/katano/jinja/hosida.html
[15] Hoshida Myoken-gu / Hoshida no Mori / Korin-ji Temple – Introducing Sites of Legendary Ghost Stories, Strange Tales, and Historical Secrets | Japan Densho Taikan
[16] Hoshida Myoken-gu | Katano City Hoshinomachi Tourism Association
[17] Hoshida jinja
https://osaka.mytabi.net/hoshida-shrine.php
[18] Komatsu jinja (Katano City) – Wikipedia
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B0%8F%E6%9D%BE%E7%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE_(%E4%BA%A4%E9%87%8E%E5%B8%82)