The Hitokotonushi shrine – located in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan – recently became a popular spot among local bees that are looking to keep themselves cool during the summertime.
The bees used to cling onto the sides of the temizu-ya (water pavilion), but they'd always get caught in the water and end up drowning.
Like any other living creature, bees need water to survive. And with the shrine’s help, two miniature water fountains were installed to provide a safer alternative for these thirsty bees.
IMAGE: @hitokoto0913 / Twitter
Designed by the Hitokotonushi shrine staff, the first miniature water fountain includes two mounts of wet moss on top of a gentle stream, a mini stone lion, and a red flag.
With an easier surface to land on, the bees can now quench their thirst safely.
The miniature water fountain.
IMAGE: @hitokoto0913 / Twitter
Although the miniature water fountain is placed beside the temizu-ya, visitors of the shrine happily coexist with the local bees.
A sign close to the fountains informs people that the bees are gentle and won't sting unless provoked.
IMAGE: @hitokoto0913 / Twitter
“To those using the temizu-ya, honeybees in the neighborhood are currently coming to the shrine to drink water. We are now guiding the bees to their own exclusive water drinking spot. They have a very gentle disposition so they rarely sting. Please look over them warmly without provoking them,” the sign reads.
Soon after the shrine shared its miniature water fountain on Twitter, the post went viral with more than 180,000 likes and 55,000 retweets at the time of writing.
【久々のミツバチ専用水饮み场】
暑くなるとミツバチさんが団体で手水舎に水を饮みに来ます。
ここ数年はいらっしゃいませんでしたが、今年は久々の后来社。
専用水饮み処を作りましたので暖かく见守っていただければ幸いです。#ミツバチ #水饮み场 #一言主神社 pic.twitter.com/bautexLcuc — 一言主神社 (@hitokoto0913) July 21, 2021
Several Japanese Twitter users found the bees to be cute, while others praised the Hitokotonushi shrine for its creative idea.
These Tweets say it all.
IMAGE: @shigekaho / Twitter
"This kind of thing is strangely cute, isn't it?"
IMAGE: @kuromamehotaru / Twitter
"There was no concept that honeybees drink water, I'm so surprised. The appearances of the honeybees are cute and soothing. It's a nice shrine. I want to go."
IMAGE: @kulukulu000 / Twitter
"I'm scared if it's a giant hornet. Bees are cute."
IMAGE: @s_shirakami / Twitter
"You can pour water into a bamboo bowl filled with pebbles and moss with a gutter, and the bees will suck the water soaked in the moss safely without accidentally drowning! It looks good, it's kind to bees, and its really nice!"
Sure enough, the local bees began to love their new drinking spot, prompting the shrine to design another miniature water fountain.
It includes a small shrine and gate made out of wood at both ends, accompanied by a pebble pathway arranged in the middle, with moss filling the sides.
A depiction of an actual shrine.
IMAGE: @hitokoto0913 / Twitter
IMAGE: @hitokoto0913 / Twitter
The same sign – in addition to a four-panel illustration – was also there to remind the public to be nice to the bees.
IMAGE: @hitokoto0913 / Twitter
It turns out that a grasshopper also enjoyed the refreshment.
IMAGE: @hitokoto0913 / Twitter
Since 2016, the Hitokotonushi shrine has been taking care of the local bees by installing miniature water fountains.
Back then, the design was a lot simpler.
IMAGE: @hitokoto0913 / Twitter
What are your thoughts on these miniature water fountains?
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Cover image sourced from @hitokoto0913 / Twitter.
