Atsuta Jingu

愛知県

Eastern Japan's greatest shrine — home of the sacred Kusanagi Sword, one of the three Imperial Treasures

Founded

113

Type

Shrine

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名鉄神宮前駅徒歩3分

1-1-1 Jingu, Atsuta Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi

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Info

Shrine

Founded 113

1913 years

Enshrined Deity

熱田大神

草薙剣

Overview

Atsuta Jingu in Nagoya enshrines the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, one of the Three Imperial Regalia, with origins dated to 113 CE. Drawing 6.5 million worshippers annually, it is Nagoya's most sacred site. Ancient camphor trees shade the precincts. The Nobunaga-bei wall, offered by Oda Nobunaga after Okehazama (1560), still stands.

Origins

Tradition holds that the shrine was founded after the eastern campaigns of Yamato Takeru, when his consort Miyasuhime-no-Mikoto enshrined the sacred sword Kusanagi at Atsuta in Owari — conventionally dated to the 43rd year of Emperor Keiko (traditionally 113 CE). In the late Heian period it was rank…

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Okehazama Battlefield: Tracing Nobunaga's Lightning Strike

In the fifth month of Eiroku 3 (1560), the minor lord Oda Nobunaga launched a surprise attack at Okehazama against the much larger force of Imagawa Yoshimoto, killing him. This battle marked the starting point of Nobunaga's path to unification. This article traces the battle and Nobunaga's consolidation of Owari through five historic sites.

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The Legend of Yamato Takeru: Hero Mythology of Atsuta Shrine and the Eastern/Western Campaigns

Yamato Takeru no Mikoto was an ancient hero-deity, son of Emperor Keiko, who undertook campaigns against the Kumaso and Emishi. This article examines his legend — the Kusanagi sword, the white bird myth, and his connection to Atsuta Shrine — based on the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki.

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Nagoya Castle and the Owari Tokugawa: The Castle Town of the Golden Shachi

Tracing the major historic sites of Nagoya Castle and its castle town, seat of the Owari Tokugawa, based on primary sources.

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もっと詳しく · 3

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Related Figures
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Oda Nobunaga

Revolutionary of Tenka Fubu

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On the eve of the Battle of Okehazama in 1560, Nobunaga prayed for victory at Atsuta Jingu. After defeating Imagawa Yoshimoto's vastly superior force, he donated a clay wall (Nobunaga-bei) in gratitude, which still stands in the shrine precincts today.

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Visiting Information

Hours

Shrine grounds open 24 hours (no closed days). Prayer/kagura reception: daily 8:30 AM–4:00 PM. Treasure Museum & Kusanagikan: 9:00 AM–4:30 PM (last entry 4:00 PM).

Admission

Free entry to the shrine grounds. Treasure Museum & Kusanagikan admission: adults ¥500, elementary/junior high ¥200.

As of 2026-07-17. Subject to change.

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Danpuzan Kofun

The great Tokai shrine immediately adjacent, enshrining the Kusanagi sword that Miyazuhime received from Yamato Takeru. Mound and shrine have formed a continuous sacred precinct since antiquity.

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Shiratori Kofun

The great Tokai shrine enshrining the Kusanagi sword and Yamato Takeru. Shiratori Kofun is its 'White Bird Imperial Mausoleum,' the site of its annual May 8 Goryo-bosai rite.

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