Junihashira Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture that enshrines twelve deities, as indicated by its name which literally means 'Twelve Pillars Shrine.' The term 'hashira' is the counter used for kami in Japanese, reflecting the shrine's dedication to multiple divine beings worshipped together.
- Denomination
- Multi-deity
- Religion
- shinto
- Enshrined kami
- Twelve deities worshipped collectively
- Coordinates
- 35.3999504, 139.3097904
Visitor tip
Look for representations or mentions of the twelve different deities throughout the shrine grounds.
Cultural notes
The practice of enshrining twelve deities together reflects historical syncretism in Japanese folk religion, where local communities would consolidate worship of multiple kami at a single sacred site for convenience and spiritual comprehensiveness.