Atsuta Shrine (Atsuta Jingu) is one of Nagoya’s most significant Shinto shrines, drawing over nine million visitors annually.
With a history spanning more than 1,900 years, Atsuta Shrine is renowned for its traditional Japanese shrine architecture. The current structure, however, is a faithful 1955 reconstruction of the 1893 building, which was destroyed during World War II.
The shrine is famously linked to the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, a legendary sword considered one of Japan’s three Imperial Regalia. Although regarded as a national treasure, the sword is never publicly displayed—only the emperor and select high-ranking priests are permitted to see it. Some speculate that the sword may no longer exist, as no photographs have ever been taken. Despite this mystery, the legend of the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi continues to intrigue visitors.
Set within a tranquil forested park, the shrine grounds include various structures such as wedding halls, tea ceremony houses, and dance pavilions. Atsuta Shrine hosts numerous annual festivals, with its New Year celebrations being particularly popular, drawing thousands of visitors who come to offer prayers for good fortune in the coming year.
Getting to Atsuta Shrine
Atsuta Shrine is easily accessible from central Nagoya. It is just a five-minute walk from Jingu-Nishi Station on the Subway Meijo Line, Atsuta Station on the JR Line, and Jingumae Station on the Meitetsu Railway. From Nagoya Station, the journey takes approximately 15 minutes.
Official Website
