Tsushima Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the storm god and brother of Amaterasu. Tsushima shrines are found throughout Japan and are particularly associated with protection from plague and disease, as well as summer festivals. The head shrine of this network is Tsushima Shrine in Aichi Prefecture, which has been an important center of worship since ancient times.
- Denomination
- Tsushima
- Religion
- shinto
- Enshrined kami
- Susanoo-no-Mikoto
- Kami enshrined
- Susanoo-no-Mikoto
- Coordinates
- 34.8884745, 136.9279492
Visitor tip
Visit during summer festivals when many Tsushima shrines hold traditional ceremonies and matsuri to ward off illness and celebrate community health.
Cultural notes
Tsushima shrines are closely associated with the Gion Festival tradition and often feature elaborate summer festivals with portable shrines and purification rituals. The connection to Susanoo emphasizes themes of purification, protection from calamity, and the power of divine intervention in human affairs.
Historical note
Tsushima shrines have their origins in the worship of Susanoo-no-Mikoto as a protector against epidemics and natural disasters. The Tsushima faith spread throughout Japan during the medieval period, with local communities establishing branch shrines to invoke divine protection. Many Tsushima shrines became focal points for summer festivals designed to ward off disease during the hot, humid months when illness was common.