Watatsu Shrine

Watatsu-jinja (度津神社) is a Japanese Shinto shrine at Sado, Niigata, which is an island in the Sea of Japan. History The shrine was established before the 10th century. This place is special to the kami named Isonotakeru no mikoto (五十猛命). Isonotakeru is said to have taught people shipbuilding and how to use ships. Each year in late-April, horseback archery (yabusame) takes place at the branch Hachimangū of Watatsu Shrine in the town of Hamochi. Watatsu was the chief Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) of the old Sado Province on Sado Island. It serves today as one of the ichinomiya of Niigata Prefecture. In the modern system of ranked Shinto Shrines, Watatsu was listed among the 3rd class of nationally significant shrines or Kokuhei Shōsha (国幣小社). References Other websites Media related to Watatsu-jinja at Wikimedia Commons