Kogane Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine in Gifu City, distinguished by its striking golden torii gate. It is widely worshipped as a deity associated with financial prosperity, good fortune, and success in business.
The shrine has a long history, and archaeological discoveries behind its grounds include a small circular burial mound believed to date from the latter part of the Kofun period (approximately the 3rd to 7th centuries) and numerous fragments of Sue ware, an ancient type of Japanese pottery.
An antique market is held on the 9th of each month and during the New Year holiday period, attracting many visitors. On the last Friday of every month, worshippers also gather to receive the popular “Golden Goshuin,” a special shrine seal commemorating their visit.
The origins of Kogane Shrine are traditionally dated to AD 135, during the reign of Emperor Seimu. According to tradition, Mononobe no Omi Kafuki no Mikoto established the provincial government office in this area and held the deity Kogane no Okami in deep reverence.
The principal deity is Kogane no Okami. Four additional deities are enshrined here: Nunoshihime no Mikoto, Ichihaya-o no Mikoto, Inishikiirihiko no Mikoto, and Hibasu-hime no Mikoto. Nunoshihime no Mikoto was reportedly the sixth daughter of Emperor Keiko and the wife of Inishikiirihiko no Mikoto.
According to the origin story of nearby Inaba Shrine, Inishikiirihiko no Mikoto was ordered by the imperial court to pacify the Tohoku region in northeastern Japan. However, Mutsu Province’s governor, Toyomasu, reportedly envied his success and falsely accused him of plotting a rebellion. As a result, Inishikiirihiko no Mikoto was branded an enemy of the court and put to death.
When Nunoshihime no Mikoto learned of her husband’s death, she left the capital and traveled to this area to honor his memory. She spent the rest of her life here, offering prayers for her husband’s spirit.
During her time in the region, Nunoshihime no Mikoto cared deeply for the local people. She used her personal wealth to help develop the town and contributed to the growth of local industries and agriculture.
In recognition of her benevolence and contributions, she came to be worshipped as a deity who brings wealth and prosperity. Her story is closely associated with the shrine’s reputation for granting blessings related to financial success.
The current shrine buildings were reconstructed in 1988. In 1617, during the Edo period, the shrine underwent renovation to celebrate the birth of the heir of Okudaira Nobumasa, the lord of Kano Domain.
After that renovation, Kogane Shrine continued to receive the devotion and patronage of successive lords of Kano Domain throughout the feudal era.
The shrine’s main annual festival is held on April 5. Gifu Festival is a series of traditional shrine festivals involving Kogane Shrine, Inaba Shrine, Kashimori Shrine, and numerous other shrines throughout Gifu City.
Festive events and celebrations associated with Gifu Festival take place on the first Saturday of April and the following Sunday.
Other annual events include the monthly antique market on the 9th and the Niiname-sai Festival on November 23. Niiname-sai is a traditional Shinto harvest festival in which newly harvested rice and other crops are offered to the deities in gratitude for the year’s harvest.
Introduced in 2016, the Golden Goshuin has become one of Kogane Shrine’s most popular attractions. A goshuin is a commemorative seal traditionally received by worshippers as a record of their visit to a shrine or temple.
The shrine offers this special golden version on the last Friday of each month as part of an event known as Premium Gold Day. The initiative has attracted a significant increase in visitors and has influenced similar special goshuin programs at other shrines and temples across Japan.
For visitors interested in Japanese religious traditions, the shrine offers an opportunity to experience local spiritual culture while discovering a distinctive modern attraction associated with good fortune and prosperity.