Atsuta Shrine (熱田神宮 Atsuta-jingū) is one of the most sacred Shinto shrines in Japan, purportedly second only to Ise-jingū in Mie Prefecture. It is said to hold the sacred sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi, one of the three imperial regalia of Japan. According to tradition, the shrine was built by the consort of the legendary Prince Yamatotakeru (日本武尊 Yamato-takeru-no-mikoto), who died in 133 C.E. (the 43rd year of Emperor Keiko's reign). The prince had been miraculously saved by this sword during his campaign to bring eastern Japan under imperial rule. The shrine received wide attention in 808 C.E. when the ritualist and historian Inbe no Hironari (斎部広成) protested the shrine's neglect to the imperial court. It was therefore raised to the highest rank and received large estates. From the 9th century C.E. Atsuta Shrine found itself under the patronage of the court and, from the 15th century, under that of the Muromachi and Tokugawa shogunates.

Its unique status was recognised by Emperor Meiji in 1868 by despatching imperial envoys to the shrine, an honour otherwise only bestowed on the Grand Shrine of Ise. Atsuta-jingū is one of sixteen chokusaisha (勅祭社), shrines where an imperial envoy (勅使 Chokushi) performs rituals (勅使参向の神社 chokushi sankō no jinja).

The shrine was severely damaged in World War II. Its restoration was completed in 1955. The Treasure Hall (Bunkaden) was constructed in 1966 and holds a large number of important cultural properties, relics and one National Treasure of Japan, a dagger from the Kofun period. The mythical sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi, seen as a gift from Amaterasu Ōmikami and a symbol of the imperial rule of Japan, has not been on public display since the seventh century C.E. but is said to be preserved at Atsuta Shrine.

Atsuta-jingū is dedicated to the following deities:
  • Amaterasu-Ōmikami
  • Takehaya Susanoō-no-mikoto
  • Yamato Takeru-no-mikoto
  • Miyasu-hime no-mikoto
  • Take Inadane-no-mikoto.







See our Atsuta Shrine gallery.


Visiting hours and admission:

Admission: to the shrine free; to the Treasure Hall: 300 JPY for adults, 150 JPY for children, group discounts for groups of 20 or more people available (250 and 100 JPY per person).

Opening hours: the Treasure Hall is open daily from 09:00 to 16:30 (access until 16:10); closed from December 25 to 31 and on the last Wednesday of each month as well as the following day.

Access:

Atsutajingu-Kyu-Cho (Shrine Office); 1-1-1 Jingu, Atsuta-ku, Nagoya, Japan 456-8585; phone: 052-671-4151.

You can reach Atsuta Shrine by Meitetsu Railway (Jingumae Station), via JR (Atsuta Station), or by Meijo Line (purple line, Jingu-Nishi Station).


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