Miwa Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine in the Miwa district of Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture. The shrine is an ancient Shikinaisha, meaning that it is listed in the Engishiki Jinmyocho, an important tenth-century record of officially recognized shrines in Japan.
Miwa Shrine was also traditionally counted among the Seven Shrines of Zenkoji and has long been an important place of worship for local residents. Although the shrine is surrounded by a residential area close to central Nagano, entering its grounds reveals a remarkably peaceful and sacred atmosphere.
One of the most striking features of Miwa Shrine is its Mitsu-torii, or Triple Torii Gate. Also known as a Miwa torii, this unusual form is particularly associated with shrines of the Miwa tradition.
Rather than consisting of a single gateway, the structure incorporates three connected sections, creating a distinctive appearance that immediately sets the shrine apart from many other Shinto shrines in Japan.
The grounds also contain approximately 100 small stone shrines arranged in an orderly group. Known as the Hyaku Massha, these shrines enshrine deities associated with the Ichinomiya, the highest-ranking shrines traditionally recognized in Japan’s provinces.
The collection creates an unusual and solemn landscape. At the end of the year, a special ritual called the 越年祭 is held, during which offerings of a ceremonial celebratory meal are presented to these many deities. This distinctive ritual is one of the unusual traditions associated with Miwa Shrine.
The principal deity of Miwa Shrine is Omononushi-no-Mikoto, the same deity enshrined at the famous Omiwa Shrine in Nara Prefecture. In Shinto tradition, Omononushi is regarded as the nigimitama, or benevolent and harmonious spirit, of Okuninushi-no-Mikoto.
Omononushi is also traditionally regarded as the father of the deity enshrined at the nearby Suwa-related shrine known as Take-mikazuchi Tomi-no-Mikoto Hikowake Shrine in the source tradition.
Kuninari-hime-no-Kami is enshrined alongside the principal deity and is traditionally described as Omononushi’s mother.
Kamube-no-Kami, also known by the name Kamihatori-no-Kami, is another deity enshrined at Miwa Shrine.
The exact date when Miwa Shrine was founded is unknown. However, its name and principal deity are closely connected with Omiwa Shrine in ancient Yamato Province, now Nara Prefecture, indicating its strong ties to the wider Miwa religious tradition.
According to the Zenkoji Engi, a person named Miwa Tokimaru came from the Miwa area of Yamato. After making a pilgrimage to Zenkoji, he is said to have remained in this region and dedicated a sacred object associated with Omiwa Shrine.
Several local place names and historical sites are associated with the Tokimaru tradition, including Tokimaru-zuka and Tokimaru-dera. These traditions suggest that people connected with the Miwa clan may have settled in the area in ancient times.
Another intriguing connection comes from archaeological discoveries at the Matsunoyama Kiln Site in Tanokuchi, Nagano. Pottery excavated there has similarities to pottery from the Izumi Tsu district kilns in Osaka, an area historically associated with the Miwa clan.
The shrine first appears in surviving historical records in 861, when Kuninari-hime-no-Kami, one of its accompanying deities, was granted a rank in the traditional system of divine ranks.
In 866, offerings were presented at the shrine as part of prayers for protection against epidemics. These records indicate that the shrine was already regarded as an important guardian of the local community more than a thousand years ago.
During the Edo period, the shrine was known as Miwa Shrine, written with the characters for the traditional name “Miwa.” In 1774, with permission from the Yoshida family, an influential family in the administration of Shinto institutions, the shrine adopted the present name Miwa Shrine using the characters “美和.”
The present shrine buildings were constructed in 1793, giving the current complex a strong connection with the late Edo period.
In 1873, following the Meiji government’s reorganization of the Shinto shrine system, Miwa Shrine was designated as a village shrine. In 1935, it was elevated to the status of a prefectural shrine.
In 1986, it was designated as a shrine to which an official imperial offering envoy could be dispatched, reflecting its continuing institutional and religious significance.
The main sanctuary is built in the traditional nagare-zukuri style, characterized by its graceful sweeping roof. The worship hall provides the main space where visitors offer prayers, while the norito hall is used by Shinto priests for the recitation of ritual prayers.
The shrine office is also located within the grounds and handles matters such as goshuin, the traditional temple and shrine stamp books, and other religious offerings.
An auxiliary shrine dedicated to Aoso Shrine stands within the grounds. It is said to have been established during the Meiji period by a local resident named Osuga Chuzaemon, who prayed for recovery from paralysis.
Along the walls of the shrine grounds, numerous small stone shrines can be seen. Collectively known as the Hyaku Massha, they represent deities associated with important shrines from throughout Japan and form one of the most distinctive features of the site.
Miwa Shrine holds traditional Shinto ceremonies throughout the year, many of which remain closely connected with the life of the local community.
New Year’s Festival: January 1
Setsubun Tsuina Festival: February 3
Spring Grand Festival: April 27
Wind Festival: September 1
Autumn Grand Festival: September 26–27
Niinamesai Harvest Festival: November 27
Year-End Festival: December 16. This special ceremony includes the presentation of a ceremonial meal to the group of stone shrines.
Oharai Purification Ceremony: December 31
Miwa Shrine offers a different experience from the major sightseeing destinations of Nagano. Located close to the city center, it is easy to reach while retaining the quiet atmosphere of a traditional place of worship.
The unusual Triple Torii Gate, the remarkable collection of approximately 100 stone shrines, and the shrine’s ancient connections with the Miwa tradition make it especially interesting for travelers fascinated by Japanese religious history.
The shrine is located just a short walk from Hongo Station on the Nagano Electric Railway Nagano Line. Its convenient location makes it easy to include in a sightseeing itinerary around Nagano City, particularly for visitors exploring Zenkoji and the historic shrines and temples associated with the city.
For travelers interested in Japanese history, Shinto traditions, and quieter cultural experiences, Miwa Shrine provides an opportunity to step away from the main tourist routes and encounter a living place of local worship with more than a thousand years of documented history.