Koguryo Shrine

Overview

Koguryo Shrine, located in Hidaka City, Saitama Prefecture, is a venerable shrine dedicated to the ancient Koguryo kings. Its founding is traced back to a legend that tells of the Yamato court settling naturalized Goguryeo people, who had fled after the kingdom's destruction by the Tang and Silla dynasties in 668 AD, in this location. In 703 AD, Koguryo Wakamitsu is said to have received a royal surname from the court. It's believed that Wakamitsu, too, relocated to Koguryo County with other Goguryeo people under imperial order. During the era of Shinbutsu-shūgō (the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism), the Kogure family served as the shrine's head priests (bettō). After Tokugawa Ieyasu entered Kanto in 1591, the Tokugawa shogunate granted 3 koku (a unit of land measurement) within Koguryo-gō as a shrine holding the following year (1592). The shrine's name, which was once known as Koguryo Dai Myōjin, Dai Myōjin, and Shirahige Dai Myōjin, was changed to Koguryo Shrine after the Meiji period. A Kogure family residence, built during the Edo period and designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, stands adjacent to the shrine grounds. This residence, with its irimoya-zukuri style (a type of roof) and thatched roof, faces east, with the mountains behind it. It's recognized as a representative example of early Edo-period architecture. Koguryo Shrine is popular not only with history buffs but also as a power spot, attracting many visitors. Within the grounds, you'll find the main hall enshrining Koguryo Wakamitsu, the Kogure Family Residence, a kagura hall (for sacred music and dance), and a treasure hall. Nearby attractions include Kinchakuda, renowned for its cluster amaryllis, and Shōten-in temple. Koguryo Shrine offers a tranquil setting surrounded by history and nature, perfect for those seeking a peaceful escape from the bustling city.