Middle of the 8th century, Middle Ages, and early Edo period, this Shinto shrine honors Okuninushi, a kami of fertility, prosperity, and agriculture. Located in the coastal town of Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture, it is one of the oldest shrines in Japan and showcases traditional Heian-period architecture.
- Religion
- shinto
- Enshrined kami
- Okuninushi
- Kami enshrined
- Okuninushi, Tsukuyomi, Susahime no Kami
- Coordinates
- 35.1617451, 138.7381845
Visitor tip
Visit during the annual Okuninushi Shrine Festival (July) to experience traditional Japanese performances and food stalls.
Cultural notes
Okuninushi is also revered as the god of harvests, forests, and mountains. The shrine's architecture features a prominent vermillion torii gate and an old Shinto ritual hall known as the 'Haiden.'
Historical note
Founded in the mid-8th century.