A sacred shrine surrounded by pine forests and the Sea of Japan
Hinomisaki Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Hinomisaki, Taisha-cho, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture. Standing near the westernmost point of the Shimane Peninsula, the shrine is surrounded by peaceful pine forests and faces the Sea of Japan. Locally known affectionately as “Misaki-san,” it has long been an important center of religious faith in the Izumo region.
The shrine is dedicated to two major deities of Japanese mythology: Amaterasu Okami, the sun goddess, and Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the storm and sea deity. It is also closely associated with the ancient traditions of Izumo and is regarded as a shrine connected with the ancestral deities worshipped at Izumo Taisha.
The vivid vermilion buildings create a striking contrast with the blue sea and green pine trees. The combination of mythology, history, traditional architecture, and coastal scenery makes Hinomisaki Shrine one of the most memorable places to visit in the Izumo area.
One of the most distinctive features of Hinomisaki Shrine is that it consists of two separate sanctuaries within the same sacred grounds. The upper sanctuary is called Kami-no-Miya, or the Upper Shrine, while the lower sanctuary is known as Hishizumi-no-Miya, or the Lower Shrine.
Kami-no-Miya is dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, while Hishizumi-no-Miya is dedicated to Amaterasu Okami. In Japanese mythology, these two deities are traditionally described as siblings, making their presence together within one shrine complex particularly distinctive.
After passing through the vermilion tower gate, visitors first encounter Hishizumi-no-Miya. A flight of stone steps to the right leads upward to Kami-no-Miya, which stands on slightly higher ground. Walking between the two sanctuaries offers visitors a chance to experience the unique layout and spiritual atmosphere of the shrine.
Kami-no-Miya is traditionally believed to have originated at Kakuregaoka, a hill located behind the present shrine buildings. According to local tradition, after Susanoo-no-Mikoto completed his work of establishing the land of Izumo, he came to this area and sought a place where his divine spirit should remain.
He is said to have thrown a leaf from a kashiwa oak tree into the air, declaring that his spirit would reside wherever the leaf came to rest. The leaf was carried by the wind and eventually landed on Kakuregaoka. This place was therefore regarded as sacred, and Amenofukine-no-Mikoto, said to be a fifth-generation descendant of Susanoo, is traditionally believed to have established a sanctuary there.
The shrine’s traditions further state that in 536 BC, during the reign of Emperor Annei, the deity was transferred to the present location by imperial order. This tradition forms an important part of the ancient history associated with Kami-no-Miya.
Susanoo-no-Mikoto is widely worshipped in Japan as a powerful deity capable of driving away calamities and evil influences. At Kami-no-Miya, visitors traditionally pray for protection from misfortune, good fortune, and prosperity for their families.
At the center of the shrine complex stands Hishizumi-no-Miya, dedicated to Amaterasu Okami. The sanctuary was originally located on Fumishima Island, a small uninhabited island approximately 100 meters offshore in the Sea of Japan.
According to tradition, Amenofukine-no-Mikoto visited a nearby beach known as Kiyoe-no-hama. At that time, a mysterious light is said to have appeared from a pine tree growing on Fumishima. A divine message from Amaterasu was then received, declaring that she would remain there and protect the people.
Amenofukine-no-Mikoto is said to have built a shrine on the island and enshrined Amaterasu there. In 948, during the reign of Emperor Murakami, the sanctuary was transferred to its present location by imperial order.
From this time, the two sanctuaries came to be collectively known as Hinomisaki Daijingu, and the shrine became one of the important centers of worship in the Izumo region.
The name Hishizumi-no-Miya is closely associated with the shrine’s traditional role as the place that guards the night of Japan. According to tradition, Ise Jingu protects “the daytime of Japan,” while Hinomisaki Shrine was entrusted with protecting “the nighttime of Japan.”
This belief is deeply connected to the shrine’s location. Hinomisaki lies near the western edge of the Shimane Peninsula, where the sun sets over the Sea of Japan. Since ancient times, the setting sun has given this landscape a special sacred significance.
At sunset, the vermilion shrine buildings can be illuminated by warm golden light, creating an atmospheric scene that seems to connect the modern landscape with the world of Japanese mythology.
Hinomisaki Daijingu has received patronage and reverence from the imperial court since ancient times. From the Kamakura period onward, it also attracted the devotion of warrior families and regional rulers. Successive leaders contributed to the repair and maintenance of the shrine, strengthening its importance in the region.
During the Edo period, Horio Tadauji, the first lord of the Matsue domain, donated a shrine estate producing more than 780 koku of rice. The Tokugawa shogunate also granted an additional 600 koku. Such support helped establish Hinomisaki as one of the most important shrines in the San’in region, second in prominence only to Izumo Taisha according to traditional accounts.
The present shrine buildings were constructed in the early Edo period under the orders of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate. Construction began in 1634 and took approximately ten years, with the complex completed in 1644.
The project was initially undertaken during the administration of Kyogoku Tadataka, lord of the Matsue domain, and was completed during the rule of Matsudaira Naomasa, who succeeded him.
The shrine buildings use a style known as Gongen-zukuri, an elaborate architectural form in which the main sanctuary and worship hall are connected by an intermediate structure. The design reflects the magnificent decorative traditions of the Momoyama period and early Edo period.
The white walls and vermilion-painted pillars are richly decorated with colorful carvings. Traditional auspicious motifs such as dragons, tigers, cranes, turtles, pine, bamboo, and plum appear throughout the complex.
More than 100 decorative carvings can be found on the pillars and beams, and many feature different designs rather than simply repeating the same pattern. These details make the shrine especially rewarding for visitors interested in Japanese traditional architecture and craftsmanship.
The interiors of both main sanctuaries feature elaborate paintings attributed to artists associated with the renowned Kano and Tosa schools of Japanese painting. These works provide a valuable glimpse into the artistic culture of the Edo period.
The historic buildings preserved within the shrine grounds are exceptionally valuable examples of early Edo-period Shinto architecture. Twelve structures, including Hishizumi-no-Miya, Kami-no-Miya, the tower gate, corridors, purification facilities, treasure house, and Monkyakujin shrines, are designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
Two torii gates and five stone lanterns are also included in the cultural property designation. Together, these surviving structures form a remarkably well-preserved shrine complex that conveys the architectural and religious traditions of early Edo-period Japan.
The imposing vermilion tower gate at the entrance is one of the most recognizable structures at Hinomisaki Shrine. Passing through the gate marks the transition from the surrounding town into the sacred space of the shrine.
Corridors surround Hishizumi-no-Miya, creating a solemn atmosphere around the sanctuary. The grounds also contain a purification area where ritual purification is traditionally performed during religious ceremonies.
Small shrines known as Monkyakujin-sha stand on both sides of the tower gate. They enshrine protective deities traditionally regarded as guardians of the sacred precinct. Their position near the entrance reflects their role in protecting the shrine’s spiritual space.
Approximately 100 meters west of the shrine, a small island called Fumishima rises from the Sea of Japan. This island was the original location of Hishizumi-no-Miya and remains an important part of the shrine’s sacred territory.
Covering approximately 3,000 square meters, Fumishima is characterized by unusual rock formations created by columnar joints. The stacked appearance of the rocks is traditionally said to resemble a pile of Buddhist sutras, which is believed to be the origin of the island’s name.
Fumishima is also famous as a breeding ground for black-tailed gulls and is designated as a National Natural Monument of Japan. Around 5,000 gulls are said to arrive during winter, while spring is the season for nesting, laying eggs, and raising chicks.
Because Fumishima is considered sacred territory, ordinary visitors are not permitted to land on the island. Only shrine priests cross to the island for religious ceremonies.
Every year on August 7, a major ceremony is held there. Known as the Sunset Festival, the ritual takes place against the backdrop of the setting sun and creates an especially mysterious and solemn atmosphere.
Hinomisaki Shrine preserves numerous cultural treasures accumulated over its long history. In addition to the historic shrine buildings designated as Important Cultural Properties, the shrine is associated with the Shiroito-odoshi Yoroi, a 13th-century Japanese armor that is designated as a National Treasure.
The armor reflects the close relationship that Hinomisaki Shrine has maintained with warriors, regional rulers, and the imperial court throughout its long history.
Hinomisaki Shrine is one of the important sacred sites of the Izumo region, alongside Izumo Taisha. Its two-sanctuary structure, ancient legends, magnificent Edo-period architecture, and connection with the setting sun make it unlike many other shrines in Japan.
The vivid vermilion buildings stand beautifully against the Sea of Japan and surrounding pine forests, while the stories of Amaterasu and Susanoo connect the site with some of the best-known traditions of Japanese mythology.
The shrine is also traditionally associated with blessings such as protection from misfortune, good fortune, harmonious relationships, marital harmony, and family prosperity. For travelers exploring Izumo, visiting Hinomisaki Shrine together with Izumo Taisha provides an opportunity to experience another important dimension of the region’s rich mythology and spiritual heritage.
Free in the precincts
Gosanjo (Shrine) 8:30 a.m. to 4:50 p.m.
From JR Izumo City Station, take the Ichibata Bus [Hinomisaki-line] to “Inasa-no-hama” and walk shortly (about 40 minutes: only 4 buses a day).
13-minute walk from Izumo Taisha Liaison Station on the Ichibata Bus (approx. 1 km)
3 minutes drive from Izumo Taisha Shrine
15 minutes walk from Izumo Taisha Shrine (about 1.2 km)