Shrines/Temples by Region
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Hokkaido
Famous Shrines/Temples
- Hokkaido Shrine
The Shrine represents Hokkaido, and the number of visitors are No.1 in Hokkaido. When you hear the sound of the whistle in June, which the people making a round of visits to temples throughout the country for the annual festival brings the northern provinces the real feeling of Summer. The very beautiful row of the cherry blossoms in the precincts are very famous too. They are putting a great deal of effort into the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, and kendo so that children beyond human race or religions are doing activities around the shrine.
- Hakodate Hachimangu
During the Bon festival, they have an annual festival of Hakodate Hachimangu. In the festival one has to carry a portable shrine on the shoulder and run up 133 steps of the stairs of stone, which is a heroic Shinto ritual.
Tohoku
Famous Shrines/Temples
Tohoku's 3 most noted temples are
Miyagi Prefecture, Matsushima city's Zuigan-ji
- near from the station, but it could be inconvenient to get to other places
- while visiting the temple, you could also visit Matsushima Island and the aquarium
- the view is very beatiful that it is one of the 3 most famous views in Japan
Iwate Prefecture, Hiraizumi city's Chuson-ji
- Motsu-ji is also near the temple which is a nice place to go
- you could visit Hiraizumi hot spring or other Oshu Fujiwara clan's historical spots from JR Hirazumi station by 100yen bus
- Although, most of the places are slightly far from each stations that it might be tough by walking
Yamagata Prefecture, Yamagata city's Yamadera(Risshaku-ji)
- near from the JR station
- you could enjoy soba and cherry picking. bulbs of konnyaku are also famous
- the view from the top is especial, but by getting to the top, you have to climb 800 steps of stone stairs that you might need steel yourself to climb it
Kanto
Famous Shrines/Temples
Nikko Tosho-gu a Shinto shrine located in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It is part of the "Shrines and Temples of Nikko", a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu) is a Shinto shrine, which is located in Tokyo, Shibuya Ward. At Hatsumode(the first visit to a place of worship in the new year), it is being visited the most among all shrines in Japan every year.
Kawasaki Daishi is the informal name of Heiken-ji in Kawasaki, Japan. Founded in 1128, it is the headquarters of the Chisan sect of Shingon Buddhism. Kawasaki Daishi is a popular temple for hatsumōde. In 2006, 2.72 million people engaged in hatsumōde here, the third largest figure in Japan and the largest in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu is the most important shrine in the city of Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Chubu
Famous Shrines/Temples
Ise Shrine (Ise-jingu 伊勢神宮) a Shinto shrine dedicated to goddess Amaterasu Ōmikami, located in the city of Ise in Mie Prefecture
Inaba Shrine (伊奈波神社 ,Inaba Jinja) a Shinto shrine located at the base of Mount Kinka in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture Originally, its name was written 稲葉神社, which is pronounced the same way. It is the main shrine that is celebrated by the city of Gifu in its annual Gifu Festival on the first Saturday of each April. Because of its size, it is a popular spot for hatsumōde and Shichi-Go-San.
Atsuta Shrine (熱田神宮 ,Atsuta-jingu) a Shinto shrine located in Atsuta-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture The shrine is familiarly known as Atsuta-Sama (Venerable Atsuta) or simply as Miya (the Shrine). Since ancient times, it has been especially revered, ranking with the Great Shrine of Ise
Kansai
Famous Shrines/Temples
The Kansai region holds eight of the Earth's World Heritage listed sites. If you drop into Osaka, are staying in Kyoto or out and about with the Deer in Nara there will always be plenty to see and do!
IKARUGA -SATO, is a beautiful town named after the Ikaru bird which once flocked to the area and is home to some of Japan's oldest Pagodas and temples.
Horyu temple - Here you will find many cultural treasures at this World Cultural Hertitage site about a 15 minute walk from Horyuji station and along the way you can treat yourself to some Takoyaki. The main pagoda is five stories high and sits majestically against the mountains behind it. Scattered within the walls of Horyuji temple you can find many things to marvel at, including the statues guarding the gates. Entry to the main pagoda area is around 600yen but the outer walls have no admission fee and is great to go for a stroll around.
Chugoku
Famous Shrines/Temples
Izumo Taisha (出雲大社, also called as Izumo Ōyashiro) one of the most ancient and important of the Shinto shrines in Japan. Its name means "The Grand Shrine of Izumo." No record gives the date of establishment. Located in Taisha, Shimane Prefecture, it is home to two major festivals. It is dedicated to the god Ōkuninushi-no-mikoto, famous as the shinto deity of marriage.
Akama Shrine (赤間神宮 ,Akama Jingu) a Shinto shrine in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture Famous for the Battle of Dan-no-Ura in which the Minamoto clan defeated the Taira clan, that was held nearby the shirine.
Itsukushima Shrine (厳島神社, Itsukushima Jinja) a Shinto shrine on the island of Itsukushima (popularly known as Miyajima) in the city of Hatsukaichi in Hiroshima Prefecture It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Shikoku
Famous Shrines/Temples
Kotohira-gu (金刀比羅宮; also known as Konpira-dai-gongen) a Shintō shrine in the town of Kotohira in Nakatado District of Kagawa Prefecture、and has several Important Cultural Assets
Oasahiko Shrine (大麻比古神社 ,Oasahiko-jinja) a Shinto shrine located at the base of Mt. Oasa in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture The kami enshrined there are Ōasahiko-no-Okami and Sarutahiko-no-Okami.
Kyushu
Famous Shrines/Temples
Dazaifu Tenman-gu (太宰府天満宮) a Shinto shrine located in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture It is built over the grave of Sugawara no Michizane and is one of the main shrines dedicated to Tenjin, the deified form of Michizane.
Yutoku Inari Shrine (祐徳稲荷神社) located in Kashima City, Saga Prefecture one of the most famous Inari shrines in Japan.
Suwa Shrine (諏訪神社 suwa jinja) the major Shinto shrine of Nagasaki Prefecture, and home to the Kunchi festival. It is located in the northern part of the city, on the slopes of Mount Tamazono-san, and features a 277-step stone staircase leading up the mountain to the various buildings that comprise the shrine.
Naminoue Shrine (波上宮 ,Naminoue-gu), literally "Above the Waves Shrine", a Shinto shrine in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture the primary shrine (一の宮 ,ichinomiya) in the prefecture.
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Some content adapted from Wikipedia.org.
