Ikuta Jinja - Kobe

Ikuta Jinja is a small shrine in Kobe that is known as the place to visit if you're looking for love or to visit with your partner for good luck in your relationship. We visited there in the week after new years which is it's popular time. The first thing i noticed was all the sponsorship signs leading up to the shrine. Goes to show religion is for sale everywhere and another reason why i don't take any religion seriously.

The shrine itself is supposed to be one of the oldest in Japan but they seem to say that about every shrine i've visited except Horyuji which is actually regarded as the oldest in Japan and is the oldest wooden building in the world.

the main entrance gates for the shrine. Notice all the lovely
advertisements on the left. Adds a great touch to one of the oldest shrines
in Japan. I'm sure the monks will appreciate a nice cup of UCC
coffee after a long session trying to reach nirvana.

this was part of a ceremony taking placeinside the shrine. Not sure what it was for
but there were lots of young men getting thebranches waved over their heads.
I think it may be for good fortune in business.

Some barrels of sake that are at most shrines this time of year.
The tigers are the local professional baseball team. They really do
need some luck.

Wishing for love. This is a part of the many omukuji all over the shrine.
the pink loveheart says "love" in japanese and as you can see from the others
has a message written on the back. Usually it's a young girl wishing to
meet her dream husband.