Miyazaki Jingu Shrine

Overview

Miyazaki Jingu Shrine, located in Jingū, Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture, is dedicated to Emperor Jimmu, the first Emperor of Japan. A shrine with a long history and deep-rooted faith, legend states that the location was where Emperor Jimmu established a palace before his Eastern Expedition. Later, it is said that Prince Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto (the deity enshrined at Aso Shrine), a descendant of the Imperial family who came down to Kyushu, founded the shrine here, commemorating this connection. The first documented appearance of the shrine is from the early Kamakura period. Records indicate that Tomochi Nobutsuna, the local Jito (land steward), constructed the shrine building at its current location in 1197, transferring it from Kugu-ya (currently a subsidiary shrine outside the main precinct). During the Meiji period, the Nago Shrine (located in Minamihata-cho, Miyazaki City; also called Nagaya Shrine before Meiji 4), situated on a keyhole-shaped tumulus believed to be the mausoleum of Ninigi-no-Mikoto (grandson of Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess), served as the starting point for the Miyazaki Jingu Grand Festival, with a procession to Miyazaki Jingu Shrine. *Note: In Miyazaki Prefecture, there's also a legend associating the Otosakazuka tumulus (the largest in Kyushu, designated as a potential Imperial mausoleum by the Imperial Household Agency) within the Saihuku Kofun Tumulus Cluster in Saihō City with Ninigi-no-Mikoto's mausoleum. Throughout the year, various events such as the Emperor Jimmu Festival and the Miyazaki Jingu Grand Festival attract numerous visitors. The Emperor Jimmu Festival features Yabusame (horseback archery), its vibrant spectacle captivating audiences. The Miyazaki Jingu Grand Festival is a lively event featuring a mikoshi (portable shrine), shanshan-uma (decorated horses), and a children's procession.