Is there an admission fee to visit Isumi Shrine?

No. The shrine grounds are free to enter and explore. Protective charms (omamori), prayer plaques (ema), and special prayer services at the shrine office require separate payment.

What is the best time of year to visit Isumi Shrine?

The New Year period (January 1-3) features hatsumode celebrations but attracts crowds. The annual autumn festival in October includes traditional processions and portable shrine parades. Weekdays offer quieter visits for those seeking a peaceful experience.

What facilities are available at Isumi Shrine?

The shrine has a main hall for worship, a temizuya purification basin, a shrine office for purchasing charms and arranging prayer services, and free parking. The grounds feature ancient cedar and camphor trees, some several hundred years old.

How long should I plan to spend at Isumi Shrine?

A typical visit takes 30 to 45 minutes, allowing time for purification, worship, exploring the grounds, and visiting the shrine office. Visitors who wish to sit quietly under the ancient trees or take photographs may want to allocate up to 1 hour. The shrine works well as part of a half-day trip exploring the Isumi Railway area.

Isumi Shrine, Chiba

3.8 (90)Tourist AttractionPlace Of WorshipPoint Of InterestEstablishment

Isumi Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Isumi City, Chiba Prefecture, positioned along the scenic Isumi Railway line in the southeastern part of the prefecture. The shrine dates back over 1,000 years and serves as the primary shrine of the former Isumi District, holding the designation of a village shrine in the traditional shrine ranking system. It is dedicated to Ame-no-Hoko-Hoko-Demi-no-Mikoto, a deity associated with agriculture and prosperity.

The shrine's cultural significance lies in its role as a spiritual center for the local farming communities that have inhabited this rural region for centuries. The main hall showcases traditional shrine architecture characteristic of the Edo period, with its distinctive vermillion-painted structures and ornate wooden carvings. The grounds feature ancient cedar and camphor trees, some estimated to be several hundred years old, creating a tranquil atmosphere that reflects the harmony between nature and spirituality central to Shinto beliefs.

Visitors to Isumi Shrine can experience traditional shrine rituals including purification at the temizuya water basin, making offerings at the main hall, and purchasing omamori protective charms and ema wooden prayer plaques. The shrine is particularly popular during the New Year period when locals gather for hatsumode first shrine visits, and during the annual autumn festival in October when portable shrines are paraded through the surrounding neighborhoods. The peaceful setting makes it an ideal stop for those exploring Chiba's countryside, offering respite from urban areas while providing insight into local religious traditions.

The shrine is accessible via the Isumi Railway, a local scenic train line. The nearest station is Kuniyoshi Station, approximately 10 minutes on foot from the shrine grounds. For those driving, the shrine is located roughly 90 minutes from central Tokyo via the Tateyama Expressway. Free parking is available on site. Admission to the shrine grounds is free, and visitors may explore the area at their leisure during daylight hours.

What other travelers are saying about Isumi Shrine, Chiba

Located on Otaki Castle Town Street, this shrine serves as the local guardian deity. It's also known for its morning market. While the founding date is unknown, it was rebuilt in the mid-Heian period and is said to have been renovated during the Sengoku period under Masaki Daizennosuke Tokitaka, making it one of the most prestigious shrines in Otaki. The enshrined deity is Susanoo-no-Mikoto. The existing shrine buildings were constructed in stages during the Edo period, consisting of the main hall, regular hall, and worship hall, and the current structure continues that tradition. Visit the shrine to see the sculptures. While the artist is unknown, both the worship hall and main hall are filled with sculptures, making for a truly impressive composition. The ceiling painting on the porch has faded, making it difficult to discern the detailed design. It is our hope that these sculptures will continue to be carefully preserved as cultural assets of the shrine that have been passed down along with the history of the castle town.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is the main guardian deity of Otaki Town. Isumi Shrine dates back to when Honda Tadakatsu promoted Gozu Tenno (Gozu Tenno) and enshrined the Gozu Tenno Shrine while developing the castle town. It has been blessed by successive lords of Otaki Castle. Following the separation of Shinto and Buddhism in the Meiji era, the shrine was renamed Isumi Shrine. When the interior of the main hall was investigated during renovations to the shrine's roof, a mirror was discovered, revealing that there are three enshrined deities. Susanoo is in the center, Onamuchi no Mikoto is on the right, and Inadahime is on the left. Susanoo and Inadahime were a married couple, and their descendant Onamuchi no Mikoto is Okuninushi no Mikoto, who is enshrined at Izumo Shrine. As such, the shrine is said to bring particularly great blessings for matchmaking, marital harmony, safe childbirth, and child-rearing. On days that end in 5 or 0, the temple is open first thing in the morning and seems to be very lively. The temple grounds are spacious and bright even in the evening. There is also an irrigation canal.

ponsuke Ponsuke

Dec 21, 2018

Isumi Shrine, Chiba

What other travelers are saying about Isumi Shrine, Chiba

Frequently Asked Questions

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