Shiogama Shrine, Shinto shrine in Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
Shiogama Jinja is a Shinto shrine in the city of Shiogama in Miyagi Prefecture, built in nagare-zukuri style, and considered the ichinomiya of the former Mutsu Province. The complex consists of three connected sanctuaries accessed through covered walkways, with stone steps and vermilion gates marking the path to the worship area.
Documents from 820 mention this place as the main shrine of Mutsu Province with tax exemptions. The remaining buildings date from the Edo period and were recognized as important cultural properties.
The name of this place comes from salt making, and the deities honored here relate to that old coastal practice. Visitors today see traces of this maritime tradition in the shrine buildings and the rituals still performed.
The complex is reached by climbing two hundred stone steps, so comfortable shoes are advisable. A museum on the grounds displays items from the Edo period, including weapons and documents about salt making.
Fifteen structures from the Edo period, including several sanctuaries and one torii, carry the designation of national cultural properties. This recognition applies to only a few shrine complexes in Japan with so many protected elements.
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