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Kinomiya Shrine in Atami: 2,000-Year Sacred Camphor and History
Five minutes from JR Kinomiya Station, Kinomiya Shrine guards a 2,000-year-old camphor tree (national natural monument) and is the chief shrine of Atami. Founded in 710, famous for sobriety prayers and five-color stones.
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Author
Hijiri
| Shrines & Temples
Contents
MOKUJI
一
The Sacred Camphor — Two Thousand Years of Living History
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二
Foundation and Deities — The Fisherman's Net
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三
The God of Sobriety — A Unique Prayer Tradition
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四
Modern Kinomiya — Night Illumination and the Shrine Café
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五
Visiting Kinomiya Shrine
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六
Related Spots
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七
Frequently Asked Questions
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Kinomiya Shrine (來宮神社, Kinomiya-jinja) in Atami is the chief tutelary shrine of the city, famed above all for a sacred camphor tree behind the main hall whose trunk measures 23.9 metres in circumference and whose age is estimated at more than 2,000 years — one of the largest and oldest trees in Japan, a nationally designated Natural Monument. Founded in 710, the shrine enshrines three deities and draws visitors for its unusual traditions: circumambulating the great camphor to extend one’s lifespan, praying to the deity of sobriety, and purifying oneself with the five-colour pebbles. Five minutes’ walk from JR Kinomiya Station.
The Sacred Camphor — Two Thousand Years of Living History
A Trunk You Cannot Embrace
The sacred camphor (okusu) of Kinomiya Shrine — national natural monument, over 2,000 years old and 23.9 m in girth
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / photo by NY066
The camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) behind Kinomiya Shrine’s main hall has a trunk circumference of 23.9 metres and a height of approximately 26 metres. Dating to more than 2,000 years ago — earlier than the shrine itself — it predates Japan’s historical record. A second camphor in front of the main hall, approximately 1,300 years old with a trunk of 9.45 metres, greets visitors as they approach.
The One-Circuit Tradition
Trunk of the great camphor — a presence that defies the imagination at nearly 24 m in circumference
Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain / photo by Batholith
An ancient tradition holds that walking once around the great camphor while silently holding your wish in your heart will cause that wish to come true — and that each circuit adds one year to your lifespan. The path takes roughly three to five minutes at a contemplative pace. Visitors queue patiently, walking in silence, to complete the ritual. Standing beside a living organism that was already ancient when the Yamato polity was taking shape is an experience difficult to put into words.
Foundation and Deities — The Fisherman’s Net
710: A Wooden Image, a Shrine
Worship hall (haiden) of Kinomiya Shrine — chief tutelary shrine of Atami, founded in 710
Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain / photo by Batholith
Kinomiya Shrine’s founding legend dates to Wado 3 (710 CE). Local fishermen hauled up a wooden image in their nets in Atami Bay. Interpreting this as a divine sign, they enshrined it on the hillside above and called the place “Ki-no-Miya” (木の宮, Shrine of the Tree), or “Ki-Miya” (来宮, the Shrine Where the Deity Came). Both etymologies are embraced by the shrine today.
Three Deities, Three Realms of Prayer
Deity
Japanese Name
Domain of Prayer
Great Deity of the Land
大己貴命 (Onamuchi-no-Mikoto)
Business prosperity, good fortune
Tree Deity
五十猛命 (Itakeru-no-Mikoto)
Forestry, carpentry; sobriety
Brave Prince
日本武尊 (Yamato Takeru)
Martial prowess, health, travel safety
The God of Sobriety — A Unique Prayer Tradition
Itakeru-no-Mikoto’s Pledge
One tradition holds that Itakeru-no-Mikoto made a solemn pledge to abstain from alcohol. As a result, Kinomiya Shrine is widely known for prayers to overcome dependence on drink. Visitors write their names on wooden plaques and dedicate them at the altar — a quiet, compassionate space for private struggle.
The Five-Colour Pebbles
In the precincts, five pebbles — blue, red, yellow, white, and black — correspond to the five elements of yin-yang cosmology: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water. Visitors rub the pebbles against their bodies to draw out impurity before approaching the main hall. This tactile purification ritual has proved particularly popular with younger visitors.
Modern Kinomiya — Night Illumination and the Shrine Café
Kinomiya-no-Mori-no-Akari
Full view of the sacred camphor of Kinomiya Shrine — tradition holds that one circuit extends your lifespan by one year
Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain / photo by Batholith
In recent years Kinomiya Shrine has become one of the most photographed shrines in the Kanto region, partly thanks to its night illumination events — “Kinomiya-no-Mori-no-Akari” (来宮の杜のあかり) — in which the great camphor and the approach are lit with warm light and paper lanterns. The events are held at selected dates (check the shrine’s official website); the image of the 2,000-year camphor glowing amber in darkness has become iconic on social media.
Teahouse Hoko
Kinomiya Shrine precincts — a tranquil sacred grove five minutes from JR Kinomiya Station
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / photo by Aimaimyi
Within the precinct, the shrine operates its own teahouse, Hoko (報鼓), where visitors can rest with Japanese sweets and matcha while looking out towards the great camphor. Open from approximately 10:00; on weekends it fills quickly. Weekday mornings offer the best chance of a quiet seat.
Visiting Kinomiya Shrine
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Access: 5 min walk from JR Kinomiya Station (Ito Line); or 20 min on foot / 5 min by bus from JR Atami Station
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Time required: 30 min for the main circuit; 60 min if including Teahouse Hoko
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Must-see: Great camphor behind the main hall, second camphor in front, five-colour pebbles, Teahouse Hoko
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Best time: Weekday mornings are least crowded; check the official site for night illumination dates
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Footwear: Mostly flat precincts — casual footwear is fine
Related Spots
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Kinomiya Shrine — main precincts
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Izusan Shrine — the other great ancient shrine of Atami
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Hashiriyu Shrine — origin of Atami’s hot springs
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to walk around the camphor tree?
The circuit of the great camphor takes three to five minutes at a calm, meditative pace. Plan to offer your prayer at the main hall first, then proceed behind it to the camphor. Queues form on weekends; on weekday mornings you can usually walk around without waiting.
What are Kinomiya Shrine’s principal prayers?
Business prosperity and good fortune from Onamuchi-no-Mikoto; sobriety and personal resolution from Itakeru-no-Mikoto; health, bravery, and safe travel from Yamato Takeru. Additionally, the great camphor tradition has generated independent beliefs in longevity and the fulfilment of heartfelt wishes.
When is the night illumination held?
The Kinomiya-no-Mori-no-Akari is not a year-round event — it is scheduled for specific festivals and seasonal occasions such as the shrine’s Grand Festival, New Year, and cherry blossom season. Check the official Kinomiya Shrine website for the current calendar.
Is Teahouse Hoko open every day?
Generally open from approximately 10:00 to 17:00. Reservations are not accepted; arriving early on busy days is advisable.
Last updated: May 2, 2026
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Author
Hijiri（ひじり）
Shrines & Temples
Toku editorial team — shrines and temples. Former designer who reads temple architecture and gardens through an aesthetic lens, quietly tracing the lineages of sects and doctrines.
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