S P O T ／ SPOT-185
Muryu Ryuketsu Jinja Shrine and the Kichijo Ryuketsu Cave
室生龍穴神社・吉祥龍穴むろうりゅうけつじんじゃ・きっしょうりゅうけつ
A water-deity and dragon-deity shrine of greater antiquity than the adjacent Muro-ji Temple, listed in the Engishiki Jinmyocho. Deep in the gorge behind the shrine lies the Myokichijo Ryuketsu (Kichijo Dragon Cave), a cave believed to house the dragon deity that has been a site of rain-petition rites since antiquity. The main hall, built in the twelfth year of Kanbun (1672), is a relocated structure originally serving as the Wakamiya auxiliary shrine of Kasuga Taisha (designated Important Cultural Property of Nara Prefecture). The precincts contain a 'joined cedar' (renri no sugi) — two trunks fused at the base — estimated to be over 600 years old. Along the approach path, further sites of megalithic belief are encountered: the 'Heavenly Rock Cave' (Ama no Iwato), the Shoubaku waterfall, and various sacred rock formations.
H I G H L I G H T S
Highlights
- 01An Engishiki-listed shrine and one of Nara Prefecture's oldest documented water-deity sacred sites
- 02The main hall (1672) is a relocated Wakamiya structure from Kasuga Taisha — designated an Important Cultural Property of Nara Prefecture
- 03A joined cedar estimated at over 600 years old, its two trunks united at the base
- 04The Kichijo Dragon Cave: a cave opening at the base of a columnar-jointed rock face, equipped with a shimenawa sacred rope and a place of distant worship
- 05Sacred rock formations along the approach, including the Heavenly Rock Cave (Ama no Iwato) and the Shoubaku (rain-summoning) waterfall
A C C E S S ／ M E T A
Essentials
- Location
- Nara Prefecture Uda City
- Address
- 奈良県宇陀市室生1297
- Fee
- 無料
- Hours
- 参拝自由（吉祥龍穴へは日中の徒歩訪問を推奨）
- Status
- 現存（参拝自由）
D E E P D I V E
Deep Dive
Religion
Religion
The enshrined deity, Taka-Okami-no-Kami, is an ancient water and rain god. According to the Nihon Shoki, this deity was invoked for rain by Emperor Jinmu's legendary ancestor. A folk tradition holds that a dragon originally dwelling in Sarusawa Pond near Kofuku-ji eventually migrated to Muro, where the Kissho Ryuketsu cave became its permanent abode. The surrounding valley has been regarded as an iwasaka (sacred enclosure of the divine) since ancient times.
Architecture
Architecture
The main hall (honden), designated as a Nara Prefecture Cultural Property, is a kasuga-zukuri structure relocated from Kasuga Taisha's Wakamiya in 1672. The oratory (haiden) was reportedly moved from Muro-ji's Hannya-do. The landmark 'Renri no Sugi' (merged cryptomeria pair, 600+ years old) stands in the precincts. The Kissho Ryuketsu worship pavilion (yohaisho) requires removing outdoor footwear before entering.
Cultural Property
Cultural Property
The main shrine hall is a designated Nara Prefecture Cultural Property (1672, relocated from Kasuga Taisha). The Renri-no-Sugi cedars are a notable natural landmark. The Kissho Ryuketsu and its surroundings fall within the Muro-Akame-Aoyama Quasi-National Park.