Miwa Jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Miwa Jinja is a small Shinto shrine in the Naka-ku district of Nagoya featuring simple wooden structures and traditional architecture. The grounds include a torii gate at the entrance, a main prayer building with a traditional roof, stone lanterns along the paths, and neat vegetation creating an intimate sacred space.
The shrine was founded in the late 1500s during the Genki period and was historically connected to archery training practices. Parts were rebuilt after World War II, and the site has maintained its role as a place of worship and gathering for the local community.
The name Miwa comes from ancient words relating to water and growth. Visitors can observe here how locals leave coins at the offertory box and write wishes on paper, keeping alive traditions that mark the seasons and daily life.
The shrine is open year-round with no entrance fee and is easily reached within minutes on foot from Yabachō or Kamimaezu subway stations. Signage and maps guide visitors, and the compact grounds allow you to walk around and find quiet spots for reflection without getting lost.
The shrine features Omokaru-san Daikoku-sama, a wooden sculpture carved from a sacred tree that fell during a typhoon in 1959. Visitors can hold the sculpture and ask if a wish will come true, then set it down and lift it again to sense whether it feels lighter, believing this reveals the likelihood of their wish being granted.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
