Atsuta Jingu

Atsuta is second only to Ise among Shinto shrines in traditional standing, and the reason is what it holds: Kusanagi no Tsurugi, one of the three imperial regalia, a sword that by tradition was found in the tail of a slain serpent and has been enshrined here since the second century. It is not displayed - not to visitors, not to priests, not to the emperor - and its existence is a matter of tradition rather than inspection, which the shrine does not dispute. What you see instead is the grounds: about twenty hectares of dense wood inside a city, with camphor trees of great age, one said to be over a thousand years old and planted by Kobo Daishi. Around seventy festivals a year are held. The treasure hall keeps swords, masks and documents, and there is a well-known kishimen noodle stand inside the grounds.

History

The Kojiki says the shrine was founded to house the sword Kusanagi. By tradition, after Prince Yamato Takeru died in 113 AD his widow venerated the sword at her home, and it was later moved here, in the 51st year of Emperor Keiko's reign according to the Nihon Shoki, or in the 1st year of Emperor Chūai's reign according to shrine tradition. The complex covers 200,000 square metres (Wikipedia, Atsuta Shrine).

What you'll find

• A hidden sword - one of the three imperial regalia, shown to nobody.
• Twenty hectares of wood - dense forest inside Nagoya, with very old camphor.
• A thousand-year tree - the great camphor attributed to Kobo Daishi.
• The treasure hall - swords, masks and documents, on a separate ticket.

When to go

All year; June for the Atsuta Festival. Two hours.

Before you go

The regalia is not visible and never will be - the visit is the grounds and the atmosphere. The main hall is a post-war rebuilding in the Ise style. New Year brings very large crowds. Explanatory signage in English is limited.

Nearby

Nagoya Castle is north; the port and aquarium are south.

Key facts