Sacred Sites of Japan

Aichi Prefecture serves as a significant spiritual hub, home to the Atsuta Shrine, which houses the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, one of Japan’s Three Sacred Treasures. The region features a diverse range of religious architecture, from the Zen Buddhist Tōgan-ji with its giant green Buddha to the Russian Orthodox church in Toyohashi. Key sites include Nittai-ji, the only non-sectarian temple in Japan housing relics of the Buddha, and various Shinto shrines in Inuyama associated with local folklore and the Oda clan.

Sacred Sites of Japan — Mapa

Saigen Jiro / CC0

A

Atsuta Shrine

Atsuta Shrine is a Shinto shrine traditionally believed to have been established during the reign of Emperor Keikō located in Atsuta-ku,…

Bariston / CC BY-SA 4.0

B

Arako Kannon

Arako Kannon, also known as Jōkai-san Enryū-in Kannon-ji is a Buddhist temple located in Nagoya in central Japan.

Roman SUZUKI / CC BY 3.0

C

Nittai-ji Temple

Kakuōzan Nittai-ji is a Buddhist temple located in the city of Nagoya, Aichi prefecture, Japan.

Bariston / CC BY-SA 4.0

D

Shiroyama Hachimangū

Shiroyama Hachimangū, also known as Shiroyama Hakusan, is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Nagoya, central Japan.

Bariston / CC BY-SA 4.0

E

Tōgan-ji Temple

Tōgan-ji is a Buddhist temple of the Sōtō Zen sect located in Nagoya, central Japan.

Bariston / CC BY-SA 4.0

F

Banshō-ji Temple

Banshō-ji is a small temple located in Ōsu in central Nagoya, Japan.

Yanajin33 / CC BY-SA 3.0

G

Sankoinari Shrine

Located at the base of Inuyama Castle, this shrine is known for its pink, heart-shaped ema (votive tablets) and a money-washing spring believed to bring financial prosperity.

ContributorQ / Public domain

H

Momotaro Shrine

A Shinto shrine in Inuyama dedicated to the folklore hero Momotaro. It features colorful concrete statues depicting characters from the legend and a treasure house containing items supposedly related to the story.

立花左近 / CC BY-SA 3.0

I

妙行寺

A Nichiren Buddhist temple in Nagoya built on the birthplace of the samurai commander Katō Kiyomasa. The grounds include a monument marking his birth.

Alpsdake / CC BY-SA 4.0

J

甚目寺観音

A Shingon Buddhist temple with history dating to the 6th century. Its Three-Story Pagoda and Niomon gate are designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan.

Bariston / CC BY-SA 4.0

K

Kawahara Shrine

The Kawahara Shrine is a Shinto shrine and Buddhist Benten-dō located in the Showa ward of Nagoya, central Japan.

Lombroso / Public domain

L

The Orthbox Church in Toyohashi

Completed in 1913, this Russian Orthodox church is a rare example of Byzantine-style architecture in the region and is designated an Important Cultural Property.

Bariston / CC BY-SA 4.0

M

Aotsuka Kofun

The Aotsuka Kofun is a Kofun period burial mound, located in the Aotsuka neighborhood of the city of Inuyama, Aichi in the Tōkai region of…

Bariston / CC BY-SA 4.0

N

羊神社

A Shinto shrine in Nagoya dedicated to the zodiac sign of the sheep. It features several sheep statues and attracts visitors seeking blessings during the Year of the Sheep.

寂光太郎 / CC BY-SA 3.0

O

Jakkō-in Temple

Known as the 'Maple Temple of Owari,' this Shingon sect temple was established in 654. It is situated on Mount Tsugao and is famous for its dense autumn foliage.

Lombroso / Public domain

P

長谷寺

A Jodo sect Buddhist temple in Toyokawa that enshrines a statue of Amida Nyorai as its primary object of worship.

Saigen Jiro / CC0

Q

児ノ口社

A local Shinto shrine located in Toyota city.

Bariston / CC BY-SA 4.0

R

楞厳寺

A Soto Zen temple in Kariya that serves as the family temple of the Mizuno clan, the former rulers of the Kariya Domain during the Edo period.

Asturio Cantabrio / CC BY-SA 4.0

S

津具八幡宮

A Shinto shrine in the mountain village of Shitara dedicated to Hachiman, featuring a historic main hall and hosting traditional local festivals.

Bariston / CC BY-SA 4.0

T

医王寺

A Soto Zen temple in Shinshiro historically significant for serving as the headquarters for Takeda Katsuyori during the Battle of Nagashino in 1575.