Learn About Japan's Mythology by Visiting These 12 Mystical Shrines
Do you want to learn about Japan's fascinating mythology? In this article, we'll introduce 12 mystical shrines that are related to Japanese mythology and connected to Japan's ancient myths. They are a must-visit for any Japanese culture enthusiast!
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In the books "Records of Ancient Matters" and "Nihon Nikki," books that record how Japan was created, everything is written from the birth of the spirits to the ascension of the throne of the Emperor of Japan.
Here are 12 shrines that are connected to those myths.
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1．Onokoro Shrine (Awaji, Hyogo)
When the world was split into heaven and earth, the god Izanagi-no-Mikoto and the goddess Izanami-no-Mikoto first created a single island above ground. After that they created the islands of Honshu and Shikoku.
The island that the gods created first is called Onokoro Island. Onokoro Shrine deifies Izanagi-no-Mikoto and Izanami-no-Mikoto of that legend.
2．Iya Shrine (Higashi-Izumo, Shimane)
After that, they made many gods that ruled over oceans and mountains and water and rocks. Finally, when they created the god of fire, the goddess Izanami-no-Mikoto's body was set aflame and she died. The god Izanagi-no-Mikoto was extremely sad, and went to meet her in the land of the dead, Yomi.
It's said that the boundary between Yomi and life, Yomi Tsuhirasaka, is at Iya Shrine. It's said that's where the entrance to Yomi is.
3. Eda Shrine (Miyazaki, Miyazaki)
Yomi was a very frightening place so Izanagi-no-Mikoto came back. He purified himself by undergoing "mizogi," a purification ceremony. As he underwent mizogi, many gods were born.
The place that Izanagi-no-Mikoto returned was Eda Shrine.
Mizogi Lake
4-6．Three shrines deifying the three final gods born from Izanagi-no-Mikoto's mizogi
Among the gods that were born of his purification ceremony, Izanagi-no-Mikoto gave 3 particular gods obs. Amaterasu-Oomikami became the sun goddess in the sky. Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto was the moon god. And Susanoo-no-Mikoto governed the oceans.
Inner Ise Shrine (Ise, Mie)
Amaterasu-Oomikami is deified at the Ise Shrine, which is also connected to the royal family.
Tsukiyomi Shrine (Kyoto)
In Kyoto, Tsukiyomi-no-Mikoto is deified at Tsukiyomi Shrine which is also famous for a place to pray for safe, easy childbirth.
Yaegaki Shrine (Matsue, Shimane)
Susanoo-no-Mikoto is deified at Yaegami Shrine. At the shrine's mirror lake, you can get your fortunes told regarding marriage.
7．Amanoiwato Shrine (Takachiho, Miyazaki)
Each of them did the job that Izanagi-no-Mikoto told them to do, but Susanoo-no-Mikoto alone shirked his job and went to Amaterasu-Oomikami's land and violently laid waste to it, troubling the other eight million gods. Amaterasu-Oomikami herself was very angry at Susanoo-no-Mikoto's terrible behavior and hid herself in the cave at Amanoiwato, wrapping the world in darkness. After the eight million gods worked together, Amaterasu-Oomikami finally came out and returned light to the world.
The cave that Amaterasu-Oomikami hid herself is the Ama no Yasugawara in Amanoiwato Shrine.
If you go up to the upper reaches of the river that flows at Awanoimato Shrine, you'll reach the Ama no Yasugawara cave. There the 8 million gods are deified.
8．Atsuta Shrine (Nagoya, Aichi)
Susanoo-no-Mikoto was banished from the land of the gods, and alighted on Izumo (current-day Shimane prefecture). There he heard of a married couple whose daughters kept being attacked by Yamata-no-Orochi, an eight headed serpent. Susanoo-no-Mikoto, with the condition that he would marry their youngest daughter, defeated Yamata-no-Orochi. From Yamata-no-Orochi's chopped up body, he pulled out the Kusanagi no Tsurugi, a longsword that is now the sword of the Imperial regalia. There are still descendents of the marriage of Susanoo-no-Mikoto to the youngest daughter.
Atsuta Shrine is where the sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi, which came out from Yamata-no-Orochi, is enshrined.
9．Izumo Taisha Shrine (Izumo, Shimane)
Susanoo-no-Mikoto's descendent, Ookuninushi-no-Mikoto, was appointed to properly govern the land. He implemented the foundation of the country, including things like management, development, public works, medicine, and other societal needs. After that, he was ordered to turn over the country to Amaterasu-Oomikami's own descendant, and he gave up the country with a few conditions and exchanges.
As one of the conditions to turning over the country, Izumo Shrine was built. It's said that for the meeting of the gods in October, the eight million gods gather there.
You can feel the strength of Ookuninonushi-no-Mikoto in the shinenawa (the shinto rope, used as a talisman against evil) in the front shrine. At Japanese shrines, the order of worship is "two bows, two claps, one bow," but at Izumo Temple, it's "two bows, four claps, one bow."
10．Takachiho Shrine (Takahicho, Miyazaki)
The grandchild of Amaterasu-Oomikami that was given the job of ruling the country was Ninigi-no-Mikoto. As he received guidance from various gods, he descended to earth from heaven.
It's said that the place Ninigi-no-Mikoto descended on is now the Takachiho Shrine.
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11．Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine (Fujinomiya, Shizuoka)
When Ninigi-no-Mikoto descended upon Takachiho, he met Princess Konohanasakuya, the daughter of the mountain god Ohoyamatsumi, and they married and had three childdren. Among those three, one of them was given the job of governing the mountains (Hoori-no-Mikoto) and another one the sea (Hoderi-no-Mikoto).
Princess Konohanasakuya is deified at the Fujisan Hongu Kenzen Taisha Shrine. It's a beautiful shrine at the foot of Mt. Fuji, the symbol of Japan.
12．Udo Shrine (Nichinan, Miyazaki)
One day, because Hoori-no-Mikoto lost Hoderi-no-Mikoto's fishing hook, they had a sibling fight. Hoori-no-Mikoto went to the palace of the sea god to look for it. There he met the sea god's beautiful daughter, Princess Toyotama, and married her. He had a lovely time at the palace, but once he found the fish hook, he returned to earth. Hoori-no-Mikoto was given a ball of mysterious powers from the sea god, and used it so he would be more powerful than Hoderi-no-Mikoto. Thanks to that he was able to rule the country. He and the princess had two children, which Princess Toyotama birthed in a cave by the sea.
It's said that the story of Hoori-no-Mikoto going to the palace is the origin of the Japanese folklore story Urashima Tarou. And it's said that the place where Princess Toyotama gave birth is Udo Shrine. Udo Shrine is inside a cave and it looks like a sea palace.
It's said that of the children born there was Ugayafukiaezu-no-Mikoto, who then himself got married, and his child went to what is now Nara, and became Japan's first emperor, Emperor Shinmu.
In Japan, it's believed that shrines hold mysterious power, and lately they have had an increase in visitors who believe that they're power spots. If you want to feel the power of the Japanese gods, definitely visit many temples while you're here.
The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.
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