A Shinto shrine has provided downtown Honolulu with small slice of tranquility for more than a century. The Izumo Taishakyo Mission is celebrating its 110 birthday on Sunday with an annual Omatsuri festival of thanksgiving. Daiya Amano is the Bishop of the Izumo Taishakyo Shrine.

The structure sits on the corner of North Kukui Street across from the Chinese Cultural Plaza. It was designed by Architect Hego Fuchino, and completed in 1906 on by a single master carpenter named Ichisaburo Takata. Like other traditional Japanese buildings… it was fit together like a puzzle without the use of nails.

The Kami or primary deity of the temple is Okuninushi-no Mikoto, who is presides over love, happiness, and marriage and agriculture.

The temple is open from 8:30am to 5pm every day. Visitors are asked to cleanse themselves by washing their hands near the entrance. A quick pull on the rope summons the sprits… and at the entrance bow twice, clap twice, and then bow again before offering a donation to the temple.

Sunday’s Omatsuri festival is open to the public and begins at 1pm at the Izumo Taishakyo temple.