Japanese shrines

Kumano Hayatama Taisha

熊野速玉大社

Nara

Kumano Hongū Taisha

熊野本宮大社

Nara

Kumano Nachi Taisha

熊野那智大社

Nara

Kumano Shrine

熊野神社

Nara

Kumano Shrine in Nara Prefecture is a local branch of the famous Kumano Sanzan pilgrimage sites. Like other Kumano shrines, it serves as a sacred space for worship of the Kumano Gongen deities, who are associated with purification, healing, and spiritual rebirth. The shrine maintains the distinctive syncretic traditions that blend Shinto and Buddhist elements characteristic of Kumano worship.

Kunitokotachi Shrine

国常立神社

Nara

A Shinto shrine dedicated to Kunitokotachi-no-Mikoto, one of the primordial deities in Japanese mythology who appeared during the creation of the world. This kami is considered one of the first divine beings to emerge when heaven and earth were formed.

Kunitokotachi Shrine

国常立神社

Nara

A Shinto shrine dedicated to Kunitokotachi-no-Mikoto, one of the primordial deities in Japanese cosmology who represents the foundation of the earth and nation. This kami is considered one of the first deities to appear during the creation of the Japanese islands according to Shinto mythology.

Kunitsu Shrine

国津神社

Nara

A Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to kunitsukami, the earthly deities who governed the land before the arrival of the heavenly deities. The name 'Kunitsu' directly references these indigenous Japanese kami who were associated with agriculture, local governance, and the spiritual protection of specific regions.

Kunugi Shrine

椚神社

Nara

A local Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture, named after the kunugi oak tree which holds significance in Japanese culture and Shinto beliefs. The shrine serves the local community and maintains traditional Shinto practices.

Magotaro Inari Shrine

孫太郎稲荷神社

Nara

Magotaro Inari Shrine is a local Inari shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the rice deity Inari Okami. Like many Inari shrines throughout Japan, it serves the local community's needs for prosperity, good harvests, and business success.

Maruyama shrine

丸山神社

Nara

Meita Shrine

賣太神社

Nara

Meita Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine in Yamato-Koriyama, Nara Prefecture, dedicated to Saruta-hiko no Mikoto, the guiding deity of crossroads and new beginnings. The shrine is particularly known for its connection to performing arts and entertainment, as Saruta-hiko is also considered a patron of theatrical performances and dance.

Meotodaikokusha

夫婦國大社

Nara

Meotokuni Shrine

夫婦國大社

Nara

Mikado Shrine

御門神社

Nara

A Shinto shrine located in Nara Prefecture, distinguished by its name which incorporates 'mikado,' an ancient term for the Japanese emperor. The shrine serves the local community while maintaining connections to imperial reverence traditions.

Mikumari Shrine

水分神社

Nara

Mikumari Shrine is dedicated to water deities who control the distribution and flow of water for agricultural purposes. These shrines were historically crucial for farming communities dependent on proper water management for rice cultivation.

Misakiharaiwadatenomikoto Shrine

御前原石立命神社

Nara

Misen-jinja Shrine

弥山神社

Nara

Miwa Shrine

三輪神社

Nara

Mizuhime Daimyojin Shrine

水姫大明神

Nara

A shrine dedicated to Mizuhime no Mikoto, a Shinto water deity. The name 'Mizuhime Daimyojin' translates to 'Great Bright Deity Water Princess,' reflecting the shrine's focus on water-related blessings and purification.

Mizukagami Tenjin Shrine

水鏡天神社

Nara

Mizukagami Tenjin Shrine is a Tenjin shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar and politician revered as the god of learning and literature. The shrine's name 'Mizukagami' meaning 'water mirror' suggests a connection to reflective waters, possibly indicating the presence of a sacred pond or spring within the shrine grounds.

Mizunaga Daimyojin Shrine

水長大明神

Nara

A Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to Mizunaga Daimyojin, a water deity. The name suggests veneration of a divine spirit associated with water and longevity, reflecting the ancient Japanese practice of deifying natural forces and local protective spirits.

Mizunomi-oji

水呑王子跡 Mizunomi-oji

Nara

Mizutama Inari Daimyojin Shrine

水玉稲荷大明神

Nara

Mizutama Inari Daimyojin is a local Inari shrine in Nara Prefecture dedicated to the rice and prosperity deity Inari Okami. The name 'Mizutama' (water jewel) suggests a connection to water sources or purification rituals, which are often important elements in Inari worship alongside agricultural abundance.

Myojin Pond Worship Site

明神池拝所

Nara

A sacred worship site located at Myojin Pond, representing the Shinto practice of venerating natural water bodies as dwelling places of kami. The site serves as a place for prayers and offerings to the water deity believed to reside in the pond.