Katori Shrine (Katori-shi) in Chiba, Japan

Katori Shrine (Katori-shi) or Shimosa Ichinomiya Katori Shrine

The Katori Shrine is the Ichinomiya (a shrine of the highest rank) of the former Shimosa province and is the head shrine of approximately 400 Katori shrines around the country. This shrine is one of three shrines designated as “Jingu” since before the Edo period alongside Ise Jingū and Kashima Jingū. This shrine has a long history that traces back to 643, when Japan was still in the Age of Gods.

Katori Tower gate

The Tower gate is the same as the main shrine, built by the shogunate in 13th year. It is built in the style of Junwa in Sanma Ichinohe and decorated with tan. The roof is a copper-plated awning house, but at first it was a Tochigi bowl. The enshrinement of Romon Inn is commonly called the left minister’s right minister, but it is said that the old man on the right is “Takeuchi-juku” and the grand image on the left is “Fujiwara Kamashita”. The forehead is based on a brush written by Togo Heihachiro. This tower has an excellent balance between the upper and lower floors and is a symbolic building of Katori Jingu Shrine. (Designated as a heavy sentence in 1983)

Katori Shrine Main hall

The main shrine of Katori Shrine had a system of rebuilding every 20 years in the Heian period, just like Ise Shrine, but it declined during the Sengoku period. The current main shrine was built by the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1700. This main shrine inherits the Momoyama style that was used in the construction of Keicho for many years when the Marshal was built. The style of the main shrine is a double-style structure with a rear wall added to the flow between the front pillars. The building is large in scale, and the architectural style uses the orthodox method of the early modern period. (Showa 52 heavyweight designation)

Myth of the festival god – Tsutsu main life

Do you know the myths of Izumo’s land transfer?

Katori’s festival god The Tsutsumi Okami is the god that appears in this myth. Amaterasu Okami (Ise Jingu Shrine and Uchigu Shrine God), who ruled Takatenhara (the kingdom of the gods of the heavens) long ago, is Sugawara China (Ashihara no Nakatsuni / Current Japan). I thought my son should be governed. Since Sugawara China was in conflict with the devastating gods, when Amaterasu consulted with the eight million gods, Izumo was the great lord of the country because he was a superior god. He was sent to (Oniinushi no kami), but Amaho Nissei became a servant following the lord of the great lords. Next, Amako Wakahiko was sent, but Amamihiko also hijacked the country as his wife, Shiteruhime, a daughter of a great lord god, without a heart of loyalty. I tried to return to Amaterasu.
This happened twice, so when Amaterasu again carefully consulted the 8 million god, the gods spoke together and said that the Lord of Tsutsu was appropriate. A martial arts god (Takemi Kazuchi no Kami / Kashima Jingu Shrine deity) was also introduced there, and both of them were sent to Izumo.

When Tsutsumi and Wushu arrived at Inasa no Okuma in Izumo, he pulled out the ten handful of swords and showed him upside down. In accordance with the order of, I gave up Sugawara China. The two gods received a broad priest from the lord of the great kingdom, flattened Japan and returned to Amaterasu. As the god of national protection from the old days, the reverence from the imperial family was the most serious, especially the “Jingu” title (Ise, Katori, Kashima only before the Meiji era), and since the Middle Ages, the Ichinomiya, Shimokuni, Meiji Since then, it has been lined up with the Kanto Taisha Shrine, and in 1954, it was decided by the Sakai Shrine.

Ceremony Shinko Festival

The Shinko Festival is held on April 15 every year, but in the 12th year of the year, it is held on the 15th and 16th on both days. Originally it was said that it was held once in 20 years under the name of Shikinen Shrine Grand Festival. It is supposed to have reached. On the 15th, several thousands of volunteers centered on the Mikami shrine form a procession, depart from Jingu and proceed to Tsunomiya, move to the throne boat along the Tori River, and then go to the ship festival, followed by the Kashima Jingu festival. After the event, we went up the Tone River and landed at the Sawara estuary and stayed at the migratory. The next day, the same day, they form a line, travel around the city, and go to the shrine in the form of returning to the shire.

Address: 1697-1 Katori, Katori 287-0017, Chiba
Open Hours: 8:30 – 17:00
Admission Fee:

How to get there:

By Train:

from JR Sawara Station use taxi about 10 minutes to the shire or by bus
or get off at JR Katori Station (unmanned), 30 minutes on foot (about 2km)
or Katori Station = JR Narita Line Sawara Station, 1 station down (about 5 minutes)

By express bus:

From Tokyo Station, take the Kanetsu Green Bus bound for Kamata Station. Get off at Katori Jingumae and walk 5 minutes.
From Hamamatsucho Station and Tokyo Station, take the Keisei-Chiba Kotsu Bus “Komigawa Route for Choshi”. Get off at “Sawara Katori (Sahara IC)” and walk for 15 minutes.

By car