Sōja Shrine, Shinto shrine in Japan

Sōja Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Tsuyama that gathers multiple regional spirits in one sacred place for communal worship. The main building showcases the Nakayama-zukuri architectural style, featuring a simple roof design and well-maintained wooden structure with traditional proportions.

According to shrine tradition, the deity Ōnamuchi was first enshrined in 564 at Hondate, about 1 km west of the present site, though this has no confirmed basis. After Mimasaka Province was created in 713 and its provincial capital established in 714, the shrine was moved to the present site and the deities of all 65 districts, including Nakayama and Takano shrines, were gathered here as the province's sōja. Firm records begin in 1569, when Mōri Motonari confirmed its lands; the Tsuyama lords Mori and Matsudaira later donated estates, and after the Meiji Restoration it was ranked a prefectural shrine.

The shrine honors Ōkuninushi, a deity revered by the local community for bringing good fortune and harmony into daily life. Visitors witness how residents gather here during festivals to celebrate with traditional music, dance, and offerings that strengthen community bonds.

Visitors should purify themselves at the water basin before approaching the main hall and follow traditional customs of ringing the bell and bowing respectfully. The shrine sits in a quiet area of Tsuyama accessible by foot through paved paths lined with trees, making it easy to navigate and enjoy at a leisurely pace.

The shrine's rank was prefectural shrine (kensha) under the modern shrine ranking system, not Ken-sha as often misstated; it was also designated a shrine receiving offerings of sacred food and cloth. Its main hall was rebuilt in 1562 by Mōri Motonari to mark a military victory, then extensively repaired in 1657 by Tsuyama lord Mori Naganaga.