2025·R7.8.9 This is my first visit while staying in my car for 4 nights and 5 days in the Kamomejima parking lot, because I wanted to thoroughly watch 姥神大神宮渡御祭 from beginning to end. This is the former site of 折居社, which enshrined "折居姥·おりいうば(於燐姥·おりんうば)", revered by people in the fishing industry as the founder of herring fishing and featured in the origin story of 姥神大神宮 (I have heard that 折居姥's humble hut was originally in Tsuhana, but I have not confirmed whether that hut's location and this former 折居社 site are the same). A "torii" and the "北海道漁祖折居社旧蹟碑" remain. Apparently, 折居社 was moved from here to the grounds of "姥神大神宮" in present-day Ubagami in 1774·Ansei 3, and the current 折居社 building was rebuilt in 1836·Tenpo 7. The "北海道漁祖折居社旧蹟碑" was erected in 1931·S6.November by Iwata Kichijuro. The explanatory sign beside the torii reads: "Former site of 折居社 of 姥神社. Long ago, an old woman named Orii is said to have received a divine message and brought herring to Esashi. The old woman later disappeared, but people revered the statue she had worshipped here as ‘姥が神·うばがかみ’. This became the origin of 姥神社 (now 姥神大神宮). In the first year of Shoho (1644), when 姥神社 moved to Iwasaki (around the present location of 姥神大神宮), those who respected 折居姥 built a hall here to worship 折居明神. 折居明神 was also moved to the grounds of 姥神社 in the second year of Tenmei (1782), and is now worshipped as ‘折居社’. As a site associated with 折居姥, this place continues to be carefully protected by the townspeople as a place of legend." I might not have found it if there had not been a trail of purification salt along the route of the 渡御祭 float procession. Incidentally, regarding "於燐姥", 「北海道縁起物語(小林成光 著:published May 1992)」 describes her as "a shaman of the Ainu people", with "an origin characteristic of Ezo foundation legends: from around 1444·Bun'an 4, worship began at 於燐姥's hut under the name 姥神·於燐明神, attracting deep reverence from both Ainu and Wajin people." Also, through The Nippon Foundation's "海と日本·海ノ民話のまちプロジェクト", an animation of about 5 minutes titled 「折居婆さんと鰊(北海道 江差町)」 was produced, completed, and released on 2023·R5.3.21.

+1

I visited for the first time. It seems to be one of the historic sites. Looking at it👀, it appears to be the historic former site of 折居社. It seems to be connected with herring fishing, and it says this shrine building was rebuilt in １８３６ (Tenpo ７)☺️.

+2

Apparently, this is where an old woman named Orii told the local people, as a divine revelation, that herring would come to Esashi. You could also call it the place where Esashi's prosperity began.

It is a small shrine (a former well site), but it seems to be cherished by the local people.

+2

It is a little way down from the entrance to the old road in Tsuhana, Esashi. It is said to be the former home of the shrine maiden of 折居社, which is enshrined at 姥神大神宮, and there is a well.