By ando 
Basic Information
Location: 1-30-2 Motogo, Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture
Enshrined kami: Susanoo-no-Mikoto, Ichikishima-hime-no-Mikoto
Access: Approximately a 5-minute walk from Kawaguchi-Motogo Station on the Saitama Railway.
The ‘Shrine of Happiness’ that Began with a Prophetic Dream
The history of Motogo Hikawa Jinja dates back to the late Muromachi period. One night, Hirayanagi Kurando, a samurai warlord who governed this land at the time, had a mysterious dream. It is said that following this ‘prophetic dream,’ he invited the kami from Omiya Hikawa Jinja, the Ichinomiya (chief shrine) of Musashi Province, to establish this shrine.
The shrine was once located along the Arakawa River embankment, but to protect its buildings from repeated floods, it was relocated to its current site in 1622 (Genna 8). Because it enshrines both the father kami (Susanoo-no-Mikoto) and the daughter kami (Ichikishima-hime-no-Mikoto), it has long been cherished by local people as the ‘Shrine of Happiness’ (Shiawase no Miya), where people pray for fertility, prosperity of descendants, and family happiness.
Stroke and Make a Wish Come True! The ‘Shiawase no Nadeshiko’ Statue
Warmly welcoming visitors within the shrine grounds is the adorable stone statue of a child called ‘Shiawase no Nadeshiko’. Symbolizing the teaching that ‘children are treasures surpassing all other treasures,’ this statue is believed to grant blessings for fertility, safe childbirth, and the healthy growth of children when its head is stroked. The head, polished shiny by countless worshippers, reflects the earnest wishes and profound affection accumulated there.
Fudo Myoo in a Jinja? The Mystery of Shinbutsu-shugo Resting in the Shrine Office
Motogo Hikawa Jinja holds a mystery: a statue of Fudo Myoo, which is extremely rare for a Shinto jinja, is enshrined here. Originally, Fudo Myoo is a guardian deity in Buddhism, and the exact circumstances of why it is enshrined in this jinja remain shrouded in mystery.
One theory suggests that during the separation of Shinto and Buddhism (Shinbutsu-bunri) in the Meiji era, local people, feeling pity for a statue that had lost its home, secretly protected it here. For a long time, it was kept in the back of the old shrine office (shamusho) and only visible to a select few, but it is now enshrined near the entrance of the new shamusho, allowing anyone to pay their respects. A goshuin (red seal stamp) featuring the ‘Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi’ (Grass-Mowing Sword), inspired by this Fudo Myoo, is also popular due to this unusual connection.
An Unexpected Connection to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics
Also, take a look at the ‘tensuioke’ (rainwater basin) in the chozuya (water purification pavilion) within the shrine grounds. This basin was actually donated by master craftsman Suzuki Mannosuke of Kawaguchi, renowned worldwide for casting the Olympic torch cauldron for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, along with his colleagues. The history of Kawaguchi, which prospered as a city of casting, and the memory of a national celebration breathe quietly in a corner of the serene shrine precincts.
The Past as ‘Shinomiya’ and the Modern ‘Magatama Pilgrimage’
According to Edo period records, this jinja was once known as ‘Musashi-koku Shinomiya Hikawa Daimyojin’ or ‘Shirou no Miya’. A ‘shagōgaku’ (shrine name plaque) inscribed with ‘Shinomiya’ and dating back to 1707 (Hoei 4) still remains within the grounds, indicating its prestigious status in the past.
Today, it is also known as one of the nine shrines on the ‘Kawaguchi Kyu-sha Mode Magatama Meguri’ (Kawaguchi Nine Shrines Magatama Pilgrimage), which involves visiting nine jinja within Kawaguchi City. Completing the pilgrimage to all nine shrines and collecting all the goshuin in a dedicated goshuincho (special stamp book) will earn you a special commemorative gift, making it perfect for a walk steeped in history and spiritual energy.
Artistic Seasonal Goshuin
Motogo Hikawa Jinja is also very famous for its monthly ‘seasonal goshuin’. With delicate floral stamps and limited designs aligned with the ‘Nijushi-sekki’ (24 solar terms), their beauty is truly artistic. This jinja offers heartwarming hospitality, where each visit allows you to feel the arrival of a new season.
Related Links and References
[1] Seasonal Goshuin are Powering Up! | Goshuin | Shrine of Happiness Motogo Hikawa Jinja (http://www.motogo-hikawajinja.com/info/the-official-letter-powers-up/)
[2] Motogo Hikawa Jinja – Wikipedia (https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%83%E9%83%B7%E6%B0%B7%E5%B7%9D%E7%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE)
[3] Motogo Hikawa Jinja – [Official] Kawaguchi Nine Shrines Magatama Pilgrimage (https://kawaguchi-magatama.com/shrine/motogou-hikawa/)
[4] Motogo Hikawa Jinja / Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture | Goshuin and Jinja Memo (https://jinjamemo.com/archives/post-21653.html)
[5] Goshuin of Motogo Hikawa Jinja (Saitama, Kawaguchi City) – Finding Happiness at the ‘Shrine of Happiness’ – Goshuin Labyrinth (https://wave2017.hatenablog.com/entry/motogo-hikawa-jinja)
[6] Kawaguchi Nine Shrines Pilgrimage [Motogo Hikawa Jinja] | With Maho (https://ameblo.jp/yutsukixxx/entry-12357898687.html)
[7] Hikawa Jinja Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture Motogo – Jinja Fan (https://jinjafan.jp/1101937/)
[8] Motogo Hikawa Jinja (https://saitama.mytabi.net/motogo-hikawa-shrine.php)
[9] History and Treasures – Hikawa Jinja, Guardian Shrine of Kawaguchi City [First Shrine Visit, Shichi-Go-San, Exorcism, Directional Protection, Safe Childbirth, Matchmaking] (https://chinjyu-hikawa.or.jp/yuisyo/)
[10] Motogo Hikawa Jinja | The Shrine of Happiness That Has Been the Regional Guardian Deity for Hundreds of Years (Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture) | A Small Trip to Collect Goshuin (https://www.goshuin-meguri.com/saitama/1475/)
[11] History / Enshrined Kami | Shrine of Happiness Motogo Hikawa Jinja (http://www.motogo-hikawajinja.com/history/)
[12] Motogo Hikawa Jinja Goshuin and Official Access Information (Kawaguchi-Motogo Station, Saitama Prefecture) | Hotokami (https://hotokami.jp/area/saitama/Hkktm/Hkktmtk/Dmzys/143128/)
[13] New Goshuin Added | Goshuin, Amulets | Shrine of Happiness Motogo Hikawa Jinja (http://www.motogo-hikawajinja.com/info/new-official-letterwith-the-namesword-that-through-the-grass/)