A Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to the imperial princess who served as high priestess at Ise Grand Shrine. The shrine honors the historical tradition of the Saiō, unmarried female relatives of the emperor who performed sacred duties.
- Denomination
- Imperial
- Religion
- shinto
- Enshrined kami
- Saiō spirits
- Kami enshrined
- Saiō spirits, Imperial ancestral spirits
- Founding
- Heian period
- Coordinates
- 35.1364187, 136.8866773
Visitor tip
The shrine offers insight into the important but lesser-known role of imperial women in ancient Japanese religious practices.
Cultural notes
The Saiō tradition represents a unique aspect of Japanese imperial religious practice where women held positions of supreme spiritual authority, serving as intermediaries between the imperial family and the sun goddess Amaterasu.
Historical note
The shrine is connected to the ancient institution of Saiō (斎王), imperial princesses or other female imperial family members who served as high priestesses at Ise Grand Shrine from the 7th century through the 14th century. These women lived in ritual purity and represented the emperor in religious ceremonies at Japan's most sacred Shinto site.