Omi Shrine is located in Hichiya, Hyuga City, Miyazaki Prefecture. Widely known among local residents as the “Ise Shrine of Hyuga,” it is a sacred place with a long history and a mysterious atmosphere. The shrine grounds are home to one of the largest groups of sázare-ishi (small stones naturally cemented together) in Japan, while the shrine buildings are registered Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan.
Omi Shrine stands in Hichiya, Hyuga City. Its grounds contain a number of historically significant buildings and unusual natural formations, making it an appealing destination for both worshippers and visitors interested in Japanese history, culture and nature.
The exact date of the shrine’s foundation is unknown. However, it is believed to have been enshrined long ago as a guardian shrine protecting the former Hichiya Estate. Historical records of the shrine survive up to around the Genroku era (1688–1704), but it is said that the records were lost when a tsunami caused by the Hoei Earthquake swept them away.
According to the historical gazetteer Hyuga Chishi, the shrine was originally called Wakihama Daijingu. In 1879, during the Meiji era, its name was changed to Omi Shrine.
The name “Waki-no-Hama” referred to what is now Ise-ga-hama Beach. This place name is associated with the shrine’s local nickname, the “Ise Shrine of Hyuga.” The place name “Waki-no-Hama” was also recorded in the surveying diary of Ino Tadataka in 1810.
The ruins of Hichiya Castle are located next to the shrine grounds. The former castle site is now developed as Ise-ga-hama Park.
The beach beside the old castle was once known as Waki-no-Hama, and this historical connection links Omi Shrine closely with the former castle and its surrounding area.
The principal deity worshipped at Omi Shrine is Amaterasu Sume-Okami, the sun goddess Amaterasu. Because of this connection, the shrine is affectionately known as the “Ise Shrine of Hyuga,” reflecting its association with Ise Grand Shrine, one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines.
The main sanctuary (honden) was built in 1936. It is a single-story wooden structure constructed in the Shinmei-zukuri architectural style, with a copper-sheet roof. This building is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.
The offering hall (heiden) and worship hall (haiden) were also built in 1936. Both are single-story wooden structures with copper-sheet roofs. The worship hall is positioned parallel to the main sanctuary, while the offering hall is arranged at right angles to the worship hall.
These buildings are also registered Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan and are important examples of the shrine’s architectural heritage.
A remarkable group of sázare-ishi stones was discovered in 2003, when the shrine grounds were expanded. The formation is considered one of the largest of its kind in Japan.
One particularly striking feature is a massive rock known as Kamikura, measuring approximately 30 meters in circumference and 4 meters in height. According to local tradition, the deity Ninigi-no-Mikoto stood on this rock and gazed out over the vast ocean.
In front of Kamikura is a bowl-shaped depression containing water. Spiral-shaped lines are carved into its inner walls. At the bottom lies an oval-shaped piece of sázare-ishi measuring approximately 1 meter along its longer axis and 0.7 meters along its shorter axis.
This feature is regarded as an ancient archaeological site dating back approximately 5,000 years. The spiral patterns on the walls are thought to represent a dragon, while the oval stone at the bottom is interpreted as a dragon’s egg. Together, these features are believed to provide evidence of ancient dragon-god worship.
Extensive columnar joint formations can be seen along the coast behind the main shrine building. These distinctive geological formations are another highlight of the shrine grounds, adding to the area’s unusual natural scenery.
Another notable place within the grounds of Omi Shrine is Udo Shrine, which is enshrined inside a sea-eroded cave along Ise-ga-hama Beach.
The exact history of Udo Shrine is unclear, but it has long been known locally as “Udo-sama.” The opening of the cave resembles a rising dragon, and this distinctive shape is believed to be associated with ancient dragon-god worship.
The deities enshrined at Udo Shrine are:
Ugayafukiaezu-no-Mikoto, Hikoho-Ninigi-no-Mikoto, Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto, Toyotama-hime-no-Mikoto and Shiotsuchi-no-Okami.
The approach to Udo Shrine passes the western bailey of the former Hichiya Castle. Following the path leads visitors into a huge sea-eroded cave, where a torii gate and the small shrine building stand.
Looking out from inside the cave toward its entrance, the opening appears to take the shape of a rising dragon. This unusual natural formation is thought to have a connection with dragon-god beliefs.
Omi Shrine is also known as a place where Japan’s national rugby team has prayed for victory. Before Rugby World Cup tournaments, the team visited the shrine during training camps in Miyazaki to pray for success. Following these visits, the team achieved historic results, and the shrine has consequently become known as a particularly auspicious place.
During its training camp in Miyazaki before the 2015 Rugby World Cup, the Japan national rugby team visited Omi Shrine to pray for victory.
At the tournament, Japan achieved a historic victory over the powerful South African national team, creating one of the most memorable moments in the history of Japanese rugby.
Before the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the Japan team again visited Omi Shrine during its training camp in Miyazaki to pray for victory. The players sang Japan’s national anthem, “Kimigayo,” in front of the sázare-ishi stones.
The idea for this prayer was proposed by the team’s captain at the time, Michael Leitch. With many players having been born outside Japan, the visit was intended to deepen their understanding of the national anthem and strengthen the unity of the team.
After this training camp, Japan reached the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in its history, advancing to the tournament’s final eight teams.
Omi Shrine holds a number of annual festivals and religious ceremonies throughout the year. These events preserve the shrine’s traditions and provide opportunities for the local community to gather and worship.
The New Year’s Day ceremony, held to welcome the beginning of the year and pray for peace and prosperity.
A ceremony commemorating the traditional founding of Japan.
A spring ceremony held to honor ancestral spirits.
An autumn ceremony dedicated to the remembrance and honoring of ancestral spirits.
The eve of the shrine’s annual grand festival, marking the beginning of the main celebrations.
The main festival procession is held on this day. Traditional performances, including kagura sacred dance and the Ten-sho Shishi lion dance, are dedicated to the shrine.
A traditional archery competition using shihanto bows, a form of Japanese archery practiced with a distinctive bow and arrow technique.
A major purification ceremony held at the end of the year to cleanse people of accumulated impurities and misfortune before welcoming the New Year.
The shrine buildings of Omi Shrine were registered as Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan on October 28, 1999.
The registration covers the following three buildings:
The main sanctuary (honden), the offering hall (heiden) and the worship hall (haiden).
These buildings are valued for their historical and architectural significance and form an important part of the cultural heritage of Hyuga City.
Omi Shrine is a fascinating destination where ancient beliefs, Japanese mythology, history and natural formations come together. Its massive sázare-ishi stones, the legendary Kamikura rock, the traces of dragon-god worship and the sea cave of Udo Shrine create an atmosphere unlike that of an ordinary shrine.
The shrine is also connected with the remarkable achievements of Japan’s national rugby team, giving it a special place in contemporary Japanese sporting history. Visitors can explore its historic buildings, enjoy the coastal scenery and experience a sacred site that has been deeply connected with the people of Hyuga for generations.