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This elegant goshuin captures a clear autumn night in Kobe, with a luminous full moon shining above the city.

Created with intricate paper-cutting techniques, the design layers together moonlight reflected on the water, two adorable rabbits gazing up at the sky, softly glowing lanterns, chrysanthemums and other seasonal flowers, and twinkling stars. It celebrates the arrival of autumn and the harvest season while expressing a wish for peaceful everyday moments beneath the moonlight.

Bathed in clear moonlight, this elegant design depicts Ikuta Shrine’s main buildings and the small bridge crossing Ikuta Pond.

The full moon shimmers across the water alongside autumn grasses, bellflowers, traditional shippo patterns, and drifting clouds, creating a beautifully tranquil nighttime scene. What makes this goshuin especially distinctive is its use of a special “half-cut” paper technique, which adjusts the laser strength rather than cutting all the way through. The result is a delicate layered effect where deep blue, purple, and gold appear to glow together.

Created using an intricate etching technique, this goshuin catches the light with a brilliant shimmer, beautifully expressing the transition into autumn.

Its design carries a wish for a meaningful connection with Ikuta Okami and for a season filled with abundance and joy, as the air turns crisp and the full moon casts its glow over the autumn landscape.

“Nagatsuki” is the traditional Japanese name for September, and this charming design captures the gentle warmth of early autumn.

Clusters of grapes, symbolizing the autumn harvest, and delicate cosmos flowers are set against a distinctly Kobe-inspired cityscape. The goshuin carries a wish for a peaceful new month filled with abundance and rewarding experiences.

Created especially for the season, this autumn goshuin brings together several motifs with special meaning for Ikuta Shrine.

At its center is the name of the shrine’s principal deity, Wakahirume-no-Mikoto, a goddess associated with vitality and good relationships. The design also features Ikuta Shrine’s yaezakura cherry blossom crest, a horse representing the zodiac animal for 2026, and red maple and golden ginkgo leaves drifting beneath a full autumn moon.

Filled with seasonal color and atmosphere, the goshuin carries a wish for the health and happiness of all who receive it.

With more than 1,800 years of history, Ikuta Shrine is one of Kobe’s most important shrines and has long been revered as a guardian of the area.

According to shrine tradition, its origins date back to 201, when Empress Jingu’s ship was unable to continue its journey. After divination was performed, the deity Wakahirume-no-Mikoto is said to have appeared and expressed a wish to be enshrined in the region, leading to the shrine’s establishment.

Today, Ikuta Shrine is especially popular for prayers for good relationships, health and longevity, business prosperity, and safe childbirth. Its convenient central Kobe location also makes it an easy stop to add to a sightseeing itinerary.

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