5 of the most unique shrines in Japan

Shintoism is the indigenous religion of Japan, and it is often dubbed “the religion of eight million gods.” This is because, within Shintoism, practically everything, from individual physical objects to abstract concepts, has an associated deity. 

There are between 80,000 and 100,000 Shinto shrines scattered throughout the Japanese archipelago, many of which are dedicated to the staple deities of Shintoism; however, there are many that are centered around things that are quite unique or niche. 

Take a look at five shrines found in different parts of Japan that are truly unlike any other place of worship throughout the world, a distinct experience for a trip to Japan and learning about its unique and storied culture. 

Kaichu Inari Shrine (Tokyo)—May the (K-Pop) gods be in your favor

1 Chome-11-16 Hyakunincho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 169-0073

Kaichu Inari Shrine’s origins ring with the warrior spirit. Back during the Edo Period, the 100 samurai who were stationed on its grounds were struggling with their firearms marksmanship. But after being told to pray at the shrine by the god Inari in their dreams, their skills suddenly improved tenfold, thus establishing the shrine as a center for success and achievement!

Mikami Jinja (Kyoto)—Kyoto’s shrine for the “Kami of Kami”

10 Sagaogurayama Tabuchiyamacho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8394

Japanese is a language with many homonyms, and therefore, a lot of puns. The word “God” in Japanese is “Kami,” and the word for hair in Japanese is also “Kami,” just with slightly different intonation. At Mikami Shrine in Kyoto, the overlap of both is at the center, making for one of the most unique shrines in the country. 

Mikami Shrine is dedicated to Fujiwara no Uneme no Suke Masayuki, a real-life figure from the Kamakura Period that is often cited as the founder of Japanese hairdressing. It is visited by those following in Masayuki’s footsteps as professional hairdressers looking for blessings in their skills and careers.

Shiramine Shrine (Kyoto)—The shrine that knows ball

Another entry in Kyoto, Shiramine Shrine was established in 1868 by Emperor Meiji to comfort and honor the spirits of two exiled emperors—Emperor Sutoku and Emperor Junnin—who died far from the capital after political upheavals. The site was chosen on the former grounds of the noble Asukai clan, renowned for its tradition of the ancient Japanese ballgame of Kemari. It’s because of that that the shrine is heavily associated with ball-based sports.

In fact, the shrine is most often visited by young athletes wishing for luck and success in these sports. Everyone from soccer (football), rugby, baseball, and basketball athletes make their way to the shrine for prayers and offerings, many of which are actually sports balls donated to the religious site! But of course, the shrine’s cultural significance goes deeper! 

Funatsu Tainai Shrine (Yamanashi)—Into the “womb” of Mount Fuji 

6603 Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko-machi

Going to Funatsu Tainai Shrine (also known as Utsumoro Sengen Jinja) entails much more than a simple shrine visit. In fact, the shrine is seldom even the main attraction, as it is actually located above the entrance of a lava tube cave nearby Mount Fuji. As an active volcano, Mount Fuji has had a number of eruptions in the past, and as a result, a number of underground caves have formed. When trees are overflowed with lava, the bark and wood eventually burn away, but the lava hardens creating a cave and leaving the organic patterns of the tree. The interior of these caves often takes on forms that are reminiscent of the human body, flowing and venous. 

“Tainai” in Japanese translates to “womb,” and to the historic followers of the Fujiko religion, the cave was the womb of the goddess of Mount Fuji, Konohasakuya-hime. Back during the Edo Period, followers of the religion would visit this cave to pray and drink the water that dripped from the formations of the ceiling prior to climbing up Mount Fuji. The water from the cave was often collected and wiped on the belly of pregnant women to ensure a safe birth.

The same caves are accessible to visitors of the shrine, and it entails wearing a hard helmet and crouching on your knees for much of it. Don’t worry, while it isn’t just a cave one can casually walk in and out of, it is by no means one that requires extensive caving experience. There are different chambers within the cave that are labeled per their role and use back when it was visited by Fujiko followers. 

The cave is located in a fairly rural location in the woods at the foothills of Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi Prefecture and is most easily accessible via car and there is a parking lot. There is a park facility nearby with staff, and there is a small fee to go down and explore the cave. 

Omiya Shrine (Hiroshima)—Safety for your cycling journey!

1424-2 Innoshimahabucho, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-2323

Oyama Shrine sits on a hill on Innoshima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, overlooking the sea. It was founded in the year 773, making it the oldest shrine on the island. In medieval times, the shrine served as a guardian for the local maritime warriors, the Murakami Suigun,  who ruled the surrounding waters of the Seto Inland Sea. The main deity worshipped there is Oyamatsumi-no-Okami, believed to watch over seafarers and the local community throughout history.

To visit Oyama Shrine, you head to Innoshima Island via the Shimanami Kaido cycling route. From the main expressway access points, the “Innoshima Kita IC” or “Innoshima Minami IC,” it’s about a 10-minute drive to the island’s southern shore. Cyclists, meanwhile, ride along the marked route until reaching the southern coast of Innoshima; from there a short hill and a stone torii gate lead up to the shrine steps. The shrine is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00, and there is free parking as well as a cycle stand that makes it conveniently accessible whether you arrive by car or bicycle.

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