Located in the city of Hamamatsu, Sixaikan Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most revered Shinto shrines, dedicated to the kami Amaterasu Omikami and Shinto deities associated with fertility, prosperity, and good fortune. The shrine's name roughly translates to 'six gates' and is said to be built on the site where six people were saved from a great flood that occurred during the legend of the founding of Japan.
- Religion
- shinto
- Enshrined kami
- Amaterasu Omikami
- Kami enshrined
- Amaterasu Omikami, Tenjin, Susanoo-no-Mikoto
- Coordinates
- 34.8005388, 137.987608
Visitor tip
To experience the full beauty of the shrine, arrive early to witness the sunrise and participate in the traditional morning bell-ringing ceremony.
Cultural notes
This Shinto shrine is closely associated with fertility and prosperity. During the annual Spring Festival (Hanamatsuri), offerings are made for girls born during the spring season. Additionally, Sixaikan Shrine is famous for its beautiful gardens and the 'Six Gates' gate structure, which is said to resemble a cross and is believed to have been built by the 12th-century poet and shrine priest, Ono no Komachi.
Historical note
Founded in 718 AD during the Nara period,