Shrines

Just like temples,Shrines,The places of worship and the dwellings of the kami, the Shinto "gods, are dotted around Japan,virtually each area, such as villages and towns, has its own shrine,". Characterized by a torii gate at the entrance, which mean the boundary line between holy ground and the secular world. People including new couples and new born babies visit shrines in order to pay respect to the kami or to pray for good fortune and health and blessing ,also visit during special events such as New Year, setsubun, shichigosan and other festivals.

Izumo Taisha

Izumo Taisha is one of the most important Shinto shrines in Japan, and often considered the oldest shrine though has no records of exactly when Izumo Taisha was built. It shares a deep connection with the myths collected in The Kojiki.

Udo Shrine

located on the Nichinan Coast south of Miyazaki City, is dedicated to Yamasachihiko, the father of Emperor Jimmu, the mythical first emperor of Japan. This brightly painted shrine is set in a cave on the side of a cliff overlooking the ocean and so enjoys a spectacular view.

Arakura Sengen Shrine

This scenic park located on the mountainside of Mt. Arakura and in front of Mt .Fuji, offers a panoramic view of the city. A lot of people enjoy cherry blossoms in the park in spring, and also enjoy hiking.

Omiwa Shrine

This shrine sends out sugidama, an ornamental ball made from cedar leaves, to sake shops all over the country. This ball is hung by the shop owners to show that new sake has been made.

Aso Shrine

Although its origins are uncertain, Aso Shrine (阿蘇神社, Aso Jinja) is believed to date back almost two thousand years to the end of the Yayoi Period (300 BC to 300 AD). It was considered the most important shrine in Higo Province, present day Kumamoto Prefecture.

Iwakiyama Shrine

Located at the foot of the beautiful Mount Iwaki, which is also called Tsugaru’s Fuji. The shrine was built approximately 1,200 years ago to enshrine a local deity with locally grown Hiba (a type of cypress), with some of the oldest wood having withstood the snow and wind for over 390 years.

Amano Iwato Shrine

Amano Iwato Shrine is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu and sits above the gorge containing Ama-no-Iwato, the cave where, according to Japanese legend, the goddess hid after battle with her brother, plunging the world into darkness until lured out by the spirit of merriment Ame-no-Uzume.

Hokkaido Shrine

The Hokkaido Shrine enshrines four kami including the soul of the Emperor Meiji.

Achi Shrine

The shrine is charged with ensuring road and maritime safety, beauty and health, the arts and commerce. This may seem like a lot to place on one institution but when you look at Kurashiki past and present, it makes perfect sense.

Nagasaki's Confucius Shrine Museum

A shrine dedicated to Confucius, revered as the god of learning and morals, and a historical museum on China