Nagoya Shrine Visit Report 2025 Mizuho No.4 Yama Shrine
Yama Shrine — A Quiet Place Where Material and Fire Coexist
Yama Shrine stands in a residential lane of Hinata-chō, Mizuho Ward, Nagoya. Founded in 1733 (Kyōhō 18), it enshrines Ōyamatsumi-no-Mikoto, a deity who governs mountains, nature, and raw materials. For craftspeople working with stone, wood, and earth, this is a guardian of “material spirit” and safe workmanship.
1. Deities — The Union of Material and Fire
| Sanctuary | Deity | Role & Blessings | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yama Shrine | Ōyamatsumi-no-Mikoto | Protection of mountains, nature, and materials | Main sanctuary; core of the shrine |
| Akiba Sub-shrine | Susanoo-no-Mikoto Hi-no-Kagutsuchi-no-Kami |
Fire prevention, calamity averting, purification | Stated on the white on-site signboard; classic Shintō fire-prevention faith |
2. For International Readers
Japanese shrines often enshrine multiple deities within one precinct. Rooted in the idea of yaoyorozu-no-kami—“eight million gods”—this plurality lets nature, professions, and disaster-warding roles coexist so the community receives wider protection.
- Ōyamatsumi: deity of mountains and nature, presiding over the spirit of raw materials.
- Susanoo: a power that pacifies calamities and protects people from fire and epidemics.
- Hi-no-Kagutsuchi: fire itself—symbol of both danger and purification.
The result is a space where material and fire—creation and purification—are held in balance.
3. Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1733 (Kyōhō 18), Sep 7 | Foundation of Yama Shrine; traditional accounts say enshrinement occurred on this date. |
| 1872 (Meiji 5) | Official permission granted to continue as a shrine (set-in-place approval). |
| 1930 (Shōwa 5), Nov 10 | Ranked as a village shrine under the former shrine ranking system. |
| 1930 (Shōwa 5), Nov 19 | Designated as a specified shrine. |
| 2014 (Heisei 26), Oct 17 | New construction/renovation of the worship hall (per on-site signboard). |
4. A Flexible Polytheistic Worldview
Shintō is polytheistic. Deities do not compete so much as share roles in coexistence. Multiple gods may be venerated at one site so visitors can address different wishes to different divine roles—a pragmatic, flexible structure of faith.
5. Materials and Space
Stone komainu, a dragon-spouted chōzuya (water basin), and moss-touched stonework express how natural materials age yet retain presence. There is little flamboyance; instead, the design respects material essence, creating a quiet, enduring charm.
Nagoya Shrine Visit Report 2025 – Mizuho No.4
Yama Shrine remains close to everyday life, a place where material and faith harmonize. For makers and builders, insights gained here may mean more than ornate decoration—they speak to workmanship, care, and time.
Last updated: October 16, 2025 (JST)
Closing Statement
Japan has roughly 88,000 shrines. Each holds the memory of its land and the prayers of its people. From places like this small Hachiman sanctuary, I will continue documenting stone lanterns, guardian komainu, water basins, and the very air of the precincts—turning each visit into a living record on Japanstones.shop.