Einoo-jinja, Shinto shrine in Uki, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan

Einoo-jinja is a Shinto shrine in the Nagao district of Shiranui, Uki, Kumamoto. Its torii stands in the sea facing the Shiranui Sea (Yatsushiro Sea), and the shrine sits on a small hill with a view over the water. The grounds are modest, with few buildings, and the wooded slope behind the shrine is said to resemble a stingray lying toward the mountain, with the shrine at its tail.

The shrine was founded in 713 by imperial order as protection for the region and its people. Over centuries, the sea has moved closer, and today the structure appears partly surrounded by water, while time has marked its wooden construction as it continues to be revered in the community.

The shrine grounds show daily devotion through offerings left by visitors at the main hall and the practice of hand washing at the water basin before approaching. The simple structure and proximity to the sea define this place, where local people maintain traditions and express gratitude for safety and good travels.

The shrine stands in the Shiranuhi district of Uki, Kumamoto, facing the Shiranuhi Sea (Yatsushiro Sea). The torii in the sea is best seen at low tide, when the water recedes; check tide tables before going. The Hachigatsu festival on the first day of the eighth lunar month draws crowds to the elevated grounds for views of the sea.

The shrine's name comes from the stingray (ei): locals say the shape of the land from the Shiranui Sea looks like a ray lying toward Kamata-yama, with the shrine at its tail, and the tail's sword shape gives the alias Tsurugi Shrine. Some parishioners avoid eating stingray, considered a messenger of the sea deity.