Atami | Hidden in the woods, Kinomiya Shrine: Circumambulating the sacred tree is said to extend one's life by a year.

A visit to Atami is a must-see for Kinomiya Shrine, a renowned spiritual spot and a source of faith for the people of Atami. The shrine's origins date back to around 710 AD during the Wadō period, when fishermen fished up a wooden statue from the sea. A boy then appeared, claiming to be Gokumyoumi, and urged the villagers to enshrine the statue somewhere they could not hear the waves, where he would protect them. The villagers found a hollow tree and enshrined the statue there, a location that became the present-day Kinomiya Shrine. The hollow tree then became the Great Kusu Tree, a sacred tree that has been steeped in legends over the millennia. According to legend, circumambulating the tree will extend one's lifespan by a year. Others believe it's a tree of good fortune, bringing good luck. Interestingly, you'll see heart symbols on the ground here, actually called "inome." After cleaning, shrine maidens gather fallen leaves and arrange them, believed to ward off evil and bring good fortune. The community office here even has a magnificent mikoshi. Atami holds a special festival every July. After the main festival, there's a "Phoenix Chariot" (a kind of shrine) called "Hamakami-no-Mikoto" (a kind of shrine that symbolizes the removal of bad luck). Doesn't it have some similarities to some Taiwanese festivals? 📍Address: 43-1 Nishiyamacho, Atami, Shizuoka 413-0034, Japan 🚗From Atami Station, transfer to the Ito Line and get off at Kinomiya Station. It's a five-minute walk through the tunnel to the destination. #SeptemberGoodSpot2025