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Visit Takabe Shrine in Minamiboso, the only shrine dedicated to the god of cooking and home to the ancient Shijoryu sacred knife ceremony
Minamiboso City Tourism Association
Located in Minamiboso, Tabake Shrine honors the god of cooking. According to Japan's oldest history book, the Nihon Shoki, around 1,800 years ago the Emperor visited this area and was served cooked white clams by Iwakamutsukari no Mikoto. The dish was so delicious that the Emperor decreed that he and his descendants serve as chefs of the imperial court, and Iwakamutsukari became known as the god of cooking.
This is the only shrine in Japan dedicated to culinary excellence, so chefs and food enthusiasts from all over Japan come to pay their respects and seek blessings for their culinary endeavors.
It is also the only place you can witness Shijoryu Hocho-shiki, a sacred knife ceremony that has been passed down for centuries and takes place on May 17th, October 17th, and November 23rd.
During the ritual, the practitioner prepares fish, such as sea bream and carp, using only a knife and cutting board. They never touch it directly with their hands, to express the sacredness of the fish. The ritual has been an Imperial Court event since the Heian Period (794-1185). The sliced fish is then arranged in auspicious patterns or kanji characters, offering a glimpse into a now rare part of Japan's culinary heritage.
How to get there
From Tokyo Station, take the Boso Nanohana Goh highway express bus to Chikura Station (about 2 hours 20 minutes). From Chikura Station, the shrine is about 10 minutes away by rental bike or 5 minutes away by car.
164 Minamiasai, Minamiboso-shi, Chiba-ken
