Gomi Tenmangu Shrine and Stone Monuments
Gomi Tenmangu Shrine is located in the lush Shimonokae district in northern Tosashimizu, a low-lying area that has long been considered particularly suitable for agriculture. The shrine’s forested grounds include several stone monuments that remind visitors of this area’s history of natural disasters. One of the memorials was erected after the 1854 Nankai earthquake, an 8.4-magnitude tremor that caused a destructive tsunami, while another tells of severe flooding throughout Tosashimizu in the Taisho era (1912–1926). These monuments are a testament to the local people’s tenacity in the face of natural disasters, and their determination to maintain the land and relay their experiences to future generations to ensure preparedness. Similar memorials have been erected in many other settlements in the region over the centuries.