Located in the city of Yurihara, Maehata Okumya is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the goddess Amaterasu Omikami and the god of war, Susanoo-no-Mikoto. The shrine's name, "Maehata" meaning "horse head," is said to be derived from a legendary horse that was offered as a sacrifice at the shrine. Visitors can see the distinctive wooden horse head that serves as the shrine's torii gate.
- Religion
- shinto
- Coordinates
- 39.7228674, 140.1289035
Visitor tip
For visitors looking for a unique experience, try visiting during the summer months to see the "Ninenzaka" festival, where actors reenact scenes from Japanese mythology.
Cultural notes
Maehata Okumya is believed to be connected to the legend of Amaterasu Omikami's journey to the underworld, where she was said to have created the river Akita-gawa. The shrine's architecture reflects the traditional Japanese style of "fudo-myoo
Historical note
The shrine has been in existence since the Heian period, making it over 1,000 years old.