2017.08.17
nakamura

How to Enjoy Visiting Nagoya’s Beloved Atsuta Jingu

Atsuta Jingu in Nagoya is the second most respected shrine in Japan following Ise Jingu and has long been revered by the Japanese people. Here are some ways of enjoying your visit to Atsuta Jingu.

Index

First Let Yourself Be Healed by the Refreshing Air of the Main Approach
See Nagoya's Oldest Stone Bridge, Nijugocho-bashi Bridge
See the 1,000-year-old Giant Camphor Tree
Look for the Nobunaga-bei Wall Dedicated by Oda Nobunaga
Pay Your Respects at the Hongu Main Shrine

Visit the Atsuta Jingu Treasure Hall
Enjoy the Specialty Gourmet Food

See all

First Let Yourself Be Healed by the Refreshing Air of the Main Approach

Atsuta Jingu is a shrine with vast grounds covering approximately 190,000 square meters. There are many approaches to the grounds, but the recommended one is the main path through the First Torii gate. It is a path that leads straight up to the Hongu (Main Shrine), where the shrine's main object of worship is enshrined. It is surrounded by trees and has a serene and solemn atmosphere despite being in a large city. Walk up the path while listening to the sounds of the trees in the wind and of the gravel underneath your feet and you may feel your soul being cleansed.

First Let Yourself Be Healed by the Refreshing Air of the Main Approach

1-1-1 Jingu, Atsuta-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi

Detail

See Nagoya's Oldest Stone Bridge, Nijugocho-bashi Bridge

When you have walked some way on the main path, you will see Minami-Shinike. The bridge on this pond is Nijugocho-bashi Bridge. It is Nagoya's oldest stone bridge and gets its name from the 25 (nijugo) flagstones on it. It is in the form of a "taiko-bashi" with a convex arch that expresses the elegance of times past.

See Nagoya's Oldest Stone Bridge, Nijugocho-bashi Bridge

See the 1,000-year-old Giant Camphor Tree

The grounds are dense with vegetation including many old trees. Among them, the giant camphor tree near the second torii is particularly famous. It is an ancient tree that is more than 1,000 years old, and is considered to be a sacred tree inhabited by divine spirits. An albino Japanese rat snake lives in the tree, and it is said that it is good luck if you happen to see it. Be careful though, as it is definitely not a good idea to look for it.

See the 1,000-year-old Giant Camphor Tree

Next page: Look for the Nobunaga-bei Wall Dedicated by Oda Nobunaga

Look for the Nobunaga-bei Wall Dedicated by Oda Nobunaga

The wall that stretches east to west in front of the third torii is called Nobunaga-bei. The name comes from the famous warrior lord, Oda Nobunaga. Nobunaga prayed for a victorious battle at this shrine, and in 1560, dedicated the wall when his prayer came true. The wall made of thick stacks of tiles made by mixing mud and lime together with oil is both stately and elegant at the same time. It is considered to be one of Japan's three major mud walls.

Look for the Nobunaga-bei Wall Dedicated by Oda Nobunaga

Pay Your Respects at the Hongu Main Shrine

Once you pass through the third torii, you will see the Hongu, which is the destination point of the main approach. Kusanagi no Tsurugi, which, together with Yasakani no Magatama in the Imperial Palace and Yata no Kagami in Ise Shrine, is one of the three sacred treasures of the Imperial House, is enshrined here. Atsuta Jingu has been venerated as a shrine that gives spiritual protection to the state ever since the Kusanagi no Tsurugi was enshrined here approximately 1,900 years ago. It is highly revered and still receives about 6.5 million visitors each year.

Pay Your Respects at the Hongu Main Shrine

Visit the Atsuta Jingu Treasure Hall

Atsuta Jingu, with its long history, has more than 6,000 valuable treasures, 177 of which are designated as national treasures, important cultural properties, or cultural properties of Aichi. It has a large number of swords and daggers and is sometimes referred to as a treasure trove of exceptional swords. The Treasure Hall on the grounds has exhibits of notable items from the collection that are swapped out monthly.

Entrance fee: 300 JPY/adult; 150 JPY elementary, junior high and high school student

Bariston/Wikimedia Commons

Visit the Atsuta Jingu Treasure Hall

Enjoy the Specialty Gourmet Food

Once you have finished seeing the shrine, enjoy the specialty gourmet food!

Miya Kishimen Jingu Branch

You can enjoy the Nagoya specialty, kishimen (flat udon noodles) on the grounds of the shrine in this restaurant near Minami-Shinike. The restaurant has an open terrace so that you can enjoy the chewy Miya Kishimen (650 JPY (incl. tax)) in the refreshing air surrounded by the deep greenery of the trees.

inazakira/Wikimedia Commons

Miya Kishimen Jingu Branch

On the Atsuta Jingu Grounds, 1-1-1 Jingu, Atsuta-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi

Kiyome Chaya

This is a cafe behind Miya Kishimen where you can enjoy matcha green tea, Japanese sweets, and light food. It is famous for the Kiyome-mochi, a snack of azuki sweet bean paste in mochi that is popular as a souvenir. If you wish to have the Kiyome-mochi at the cafe, the Matcha and Kiyome-mochi Set (500 JPY (incl. tax)) is recommended.