Yatsurugiken Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Gifu Prefecture dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the storm god and younger brother of Amaterasu. The name 'Yatsurugiken' refers to the eight-headed, eight-tailed serpent Yamata-no-Orochi that Susanoo defeated according to Japanese mythology. The shrine serves as a place of worship for protection against natural disasters and for general spiritual purification.
- Denomination
- Susanoo
- Religion
- shinto
- Enshrined kami
- Susanoo-no-Mikoto
- Kami enshrined
- Susanoo-no-Mikoto
- Coordinates
- 35.3153946, 137.193218
Visitor tip
Look for symbolic representations of serpents or swords in the shrine's decorative elements, which may reference the Yamata-no-Orochi legend.
Cultural notes
The shrine's name directly references the legendary eight-headed serpent Yamata-no-Orochi from Japanese mythology. Susanoo defeated this monster to save Kushinada-hime and obtained the sacred sword Kusanagi from the serpent's tail, which became one of the three imperial regalia of Japan.