Ikuta Shrine is a Shinto shrine tucked into the heart of Sannomiya, Kobe's busiest commercial district. The contrast between its forested precinct and the surrounding urban density is striking — tall trees and a series of torii gates open suddenly from the shopping streets, and the inner courtyard has a quiet that the surrounding area entirely lacks.
The shrine is dedicated to Wakahirume-no-Mikoto, a deity associated with weaving. It attracts worshippers for good fortune in business and personal matters, and the lines during the New Year period are long. The forested grounds behind the main hall — known as Ikuta-no-mori — are a green oasis in the middle of the city and a good place to escape the commercial bustle of Sannomiya for ten minutes.