Yamaguchiken gokoku-jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Yamaguchiken gokoku-jinja is a Shinto shrine in Yamaguchi City featuring traditional wooden structures with simple lines and curved roofs typical of Japanese shrine design. The grounds are surrounded by trees and stone lanterns line the pathways leading to the main hall and auxiliary buildings.
The shrine was founded in 1520 by Ouchi Yoshioki, a regional leader, and dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu. During the Meiji era, it gained special recognition as the only other shrine in Japan besides Ise Jingu to officially honor Amaterasu.
The shrine honors the sun goddess Amaterasu and serves as a gathering place where local people perform daily prayers and leave offerings. Visitors can observe the local custom of ringing a bell and bowing before making a wish, practices deeply rooted in Shinto tradition.
The shrine is easily accessible by bus from Shin-Yamaguchi Station, taking about thirty minutes, followed by a short five-minute walk from the bus stop. The surrounding area includes Kozan Park and other historical sites, making it worthwhile to spend a few hours exploring the neighborhood.
The shrine was established as an offshoot of Ise Jingu, Japan's most sacred shrine, making it one of the few places outside Ise where visitors can directly honor the sun goddess Amaterasu. This spiritual connection to Japan's holiest site gives it a unique standing among regional shrines.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
