Hidden Secrets ofATSUTA SHRINE
Atsuta Jingu, or Atsuta Shrine, is one of the most famous sightseeing spots inNagoya. Many international tourists visit it everywhere. However, if you
didn’t know anything about it when you visited, you would probably thinkthat Atsuta is just a bigger version of the same kind of shrines you can see allover Japan. Even though Atsuta is very famous, its charms are hidden frommost international visitors. We want to change that.
We are a group of 3 high school students from Aichi and 3 international
university students studying at Aichi Prefectural University. We wrote thisarticle to share the great points of Atsuta Shrine with English speakers. We
hope that if you read this, your visit to Atsuta will be charming on many morelevels!

Entering a Different World:
Getting the “Ghibli Movie” Experience in Atsuta
One of the most interesting things about Japan is the coexistence oftraditional and futuristic themes. Especially the religious connection thatJapanese have with their surroundings is a big contrast to western societies,
where a connection like this is more a thing of the past. So, it is no wonderthat the movies of Studio Ghibli are successful not only in Japan, butinternationally. The way they often showcase a mix of traditional Japan andvarious gods in a fantasy-like approach takes western viewers into a world
they have never seen before.

When you come to Atsuta Shrine, this is exactly the type of Japan you can find.
In contrast to the busy streets of the Sakae district that are just a few minutes
away by train, entering Atsuta Shrine takes you into a completely different
setting, with big trees and small, interesting religious relics everywhere.
Atsuta Shrine is a soothing forest filled with things that look just like they
were taken out of a Ghibli movie.
Of course, you can go to the bigger buildings that the path and groups ofother visitors naturally lead you to and pray there. But if you look into thesmaller side-paths, you can find ancient trees or calm fountains that you canalso pray to. These are quieter places than the main spots of the shrine. Atsuta
Shrine is the perfect place if you want to explore a more natural type ofJapanese tradition than the typical big shrines of Kyoto or other cities offer.

Main Shrine (Hongu)
The Main Shrine or hongu is locatedin the very back of the shrine
grounds, in the north-center of Atsuta.
The main shrine is laid out in a seriesof “gates” that symbolize different
levels of closeness to the god,
starting from the innermost honden(main palace), and followed by thetorii (holy shrine gate), mon (maingate), mikaki (outer wall) and haiden(holy building.)

Why is the Main Shrine so famous?
Mainly it is because this is said to be place which enshrines the Kusanagi
Sword, one of the three Imperial Regalia. The sword is connected to manylegends. Atsuta no Okami, the god which Atsuta Shrine enshrines, is also
known as the goddess Amaterasu Omikami. As the story goes, she lives
within the sacred Kusanagi Sword. Amaterasu Omikami is the most famousdeity in Japan, and so items connected to her are very sacred. In addition,according to ancient records the Kusanagi Sword was used in the founding ofthe Japanese nation.
The Kusanagi Sword is not open to the public because it is very precious. Thisis kept very safely inside the shrine.

Food
There are a lot of food wagons
along the streets in the shrine. Inaddition, you can enjoy the local
specialty kishimen, which are flatudon noodles in a savory soup, atthe restaurant inside the shrine
grounds. This restaurant is not justa tourist trap; local Nagoyans lovecoming to the restaurant after
praying at the shrine.

Kishimen Restaurant Information
Miya-Kishimen (on the shrine premises)
Hours of Operation: 9:00-16:30
Closed on: December 31 (22:00-05:00), January 4(22:00-0330)
Website (Japanese) https://www.miyakishimen.co.jp/jingu/

Power Spots
Have you ever heard of a “power spot?” This Japanese-English word means “aplace filled with spiritual energy.” The most famous power spot in Atsuta
shrine is the Main Shrine. A lot of people come to feel its power every year.
However, besides the shrine, there are some “hidden power spots” as well.

1. Shimizu-Sha
To the north of Main Shrine there isa small shrine called Shimizu-sha. It
has a spring named “Oshimizusama” behind it. There are twolegends connected to Shimizu-Shaand its spring. One is a legend
about Taira no Kagekiyo, a generalof the Heike warrior clan in the 12thCentury. When he got an illness ofthe eyes, Kagekiyo washed his eyeswith the water from Oshimizu-sama.
After that, his eyes dramatically recovered. The other legend concerns Yang
Guifei, a princess of China. She was very beautiful, known in Asian stories as
one of the three most beautiful women of all time. One of the rocks in theOshimizu-sama spring is said to be her gravestone. Therefore, the water fromOshimizu-sama is said to be good for the eyes and able to make your skin as
beautiful as Yang Guifei’s.

2. Okusu
Okusu is the third-tallest camphor
tree in the shrine grounds. It isestimated to be more than 1000years old. It has a hollow within
which lives a snake. It is said thatmoney will come to you if you can
see the snake.

3. Ichinomisaki Shrine
Ichinomisaki Shrine is located in themost sacred place of Atsuta Shrine.
The “aramitama” of Atsuta no Okami,
the god of Kusanagi sword, isenshrined there. “Aramitama” is aword to describe the rough side of a
god’s soul. Reversely, the gentle
side is called “nigimitama.”
If you visit Ichinomisaki Shrine, you
may be able to receive the power of
the “aramitama” and become brave
like Atsuta no Okami.

FestivalAtsuta Shrine holds its annual Atsuta Matsuri festival in June. During thefestival, thousands of people visit the temple and take part in traditional
activities. The roads are lined with street food stalls and games you can takepart in. There is a large display of five floats, known as Kento Makiwara, with365 lanterns (one for every day of the year) arranged in a sphere, and 12
lined up from top to bottom, representing the 12 months. This is kept at thethree torii gate entrances to the shrine. During the festival, there is a
traditional ceremony performed by the shrine priests and the Emperor’s
messenger, and many other events, including martial arts demonstrations anda traditional dance.

How to Get to Atsuta: Public Transport Access[Access by Meitestu Railway Network]
From the Meitetsu Nagoya Station to Jingumae Station it is just 2 stations away,
and is also nearest to the East Gate. If you are already in Nagoya Station, thisis the most convenient line.

[Access by JR Railway Network]
On the JR Tokaido Main Line Nagoya station (CA68) to Atsuta Station (CA65),
it is just 3 stations away, nearest to the East Gate. Convenient for those whohave a JR Rail Pass which enables you to freely travel along the JR Line.

[Access by Nagoya Subway Network]
To get to Atsuta Jingu from Nagoya Station, take the Higashiyama Line toSakae Station then switch to the Meijo Line and board the train bound “anticlockwise” and alight at Jingu-Nishi Station for the West Gate or at TenmaCho Station for the South Gate.

Walking From Tenma-Cho Station① Go to Exit 1② Make a U-turn (left photo)③ Turn right (right photo)