Nagoya, Japan Shrine Visit Report 2026 Atsuta No.33 Takaradasha
Takarada-sha Shrine in Atsuta Ward, Japan — A Food Deity Shrine on Land That Was Sea 400 Years Ago
On April 28, 2026, I visited Takarada-sha Shrine in Hachiban, Atsuta Ward, Nagoya.
At first glance, Takarada-sha looks like a quiet shrine standing inside a residential neighborhood.
However, just like Rokuban Shinmeisha Shrine, this place is connected with land that was once part of the sea off Atsuta.
The name Hachiban comes from the numbered land divisions of Atsuta Shinden, a reclaimed land project carried out in the early Edo period.
This area was created when the shallow sea off Atsuta was enclosed, reclaimed, and turned into farmland.
Takarada-sha is traditionally known as the guardian shrine of the eighth and ninth divisions of Atsuta Shinden.
The shrine name contains the character for “rice field,” and its main deity is Ukemochi-no-Kami, a deity of food.
A place that was once sea became fields, and a shrine dedicated to a food deity still remains there.
That connection makes Takarada-sha a very memorable shrine.
At a Glance
| Location | 2-8-13 Hachiban, Atsuta Ward, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan |
|---|---|
| Shrine Name | Takarada-sha Shrine |
| Main Deity | Ukemochi-no-Kami |
| Founded | Said to have been founded in 1630 |
| Historical Background | Traditionally known as the guardian shrine of the eighth and ninth divisions of Atsuta Shinden |
| Visible on Site | Torii gate, stone marker, komainu, stone lanterns, shrine building, water basin, and the characters for “clear water” |
| Important Note | The 1630 founding tradition needs to be considered carefully in relation to the later development of Atsuta Shinden |
Hachiban Was Sea 400 Years Ago
The key point in understanding Takarada-sha is the background of the land called Hachiban.
Today, the Hachiban area has houses, roads, schools, and shops.
However, until the early Edo period, this area was part of the sea off Atsuta.
From 1646 to 1649, under the direction of the Owari Domain, the shallow sea off Atsuta was reclaimed and turned into Atsuta Shinden.
The reclaimed land was divided into numbered sections from the first to the thirty-third, and Hachiban corresponds to the eighth division.
In other words, Takarada-sha should be understood not simply as a shrine standing on old natural land, but as a guardian shrine remaining on land born from the sea.
The Mystery in the Founding Year
Takarada-sha is said to have been founded in 1630.
However, there is something slightly puzzling here.
The development of Atsuta Shinden began in 1646 and was completed in 1649.
If the present location belongs to the eighth division of Atsuta Shinden, then in 1630 this area may still have been sea.
For that reason, this article treats the 1630 founding date as a tradition, while handling the relationship between that date and the present location with caution.
This gap between the founding tradition and the formation of the land makes Takarada-sha more than just a small local shrine. It makes the place worth thinking about.
The Guardian Shrine of the Eighth and Ninth Divisions
Takarada-sha is traditionally known as the guardian shrine of the eighth and ninth divisions of Atsuta Shinden.
The name is Takarada-sha.
However, old records appear to show a different-looking name in some places.
The exact origin of the shrine name is also not clearly known.
Even so, the character for “rice field” in the name and the enshrined food deity, Ukemochi-no-Kami, fit very well with the history of reclaimed land, new fields, and agriculture.
Enshrined Deity
| Deity | Ukemochi-no-Kami |
|---|---|
| Divine Character | A deity associated with food |
| Meaning at This Shrine | A food deity feels especially fitting for a reclaimed area that was turned from sea into fields |
Ukemochi-no-Kami is a food deity who appears in Japanese mythology.
This deity is closely associated with food and grain.
The fact that Takarada-sha enshrines Ukemochi-no-Kami fits the character of the land very well.
This place is part of Atsuta Shinden, land that was reclaimed from the sea and turned into fields.
For such a place, a shrine dedicated to a food deity feels very natural.
Historical Timeline
| AD | Event |
|---|---|
| Before 1600s | The area around present-day Hachiban in Atsuta Ward, Nagoya was part of the sea off Atsuta. |
| 1630 | Takarada-sha is said to have been founded in 1630. However, its relationship with the present location needs careful consideration. |
| 1646 | The reclamation project of the sea off Atsuta began under the direction of the Owari Domain. |
| 1649 | Atsuta Shinden was completed, and the reclaimed land was divided into numbered sections from the first to the thirty-third. |
| 1822 | Records related to the guardian shrine of the eighth and ninth divisions appear. |
| 1844 | Takarada-sha is recorded as the guardian shrine of the eighth and ninth divisions. |
| 1872 | The shrine is said to have been ranked as a village shrine. |
| 1911 | The stone torii gate is said to have been built. |
| 1977 | The shrine building is said to have been constructed. |
| Today | Takarada-sha remains in the urbanized Hachiban area as a shrine that preserves the memory of Atsuta Shinden and a food deity. |
What the Photos Show
What stands out in these photos is that Takarada-sha keeps a well-ordered shrine space even though it stands inside the city.
The axis from the front torii gate to the shrine building is clear.
Stone lanterns and komainu are placed along the approach, and the worship area stands in front of the shrine building.
At the same time, the shrine building feels modern, almost like a white concrete structure.
The combination of older stone lanterns and komainu with a newer shrine building gives Takarada-sha its distinctive impression.
The large stone water basin engraved with the characters for “clear water” also stands out.
Because old stone elements remain in the shrine grounds, this place feels clearly like a space of faith, not simply a small city park.
Why This Shrine Matters
The appeal of Takarada-sha is not only in the beauty of its name or the shape of its shrine building.
The meaning lies in the place itself.
A place that was once sea was reclaimed and became new land. People began to live there and cultivate fields.
As the guardian shrine of that land, a food deity was enshrined here.
Takarada-sha preserves the memory of that land today.
If you look only at present-day Hachiban, it is hard to imagine that this place was once part of the sea.
Takarada-sha quietly shows how this area changed from sea to land, and how people’s lives and prayers for food were layered onto that land.
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Writen on : May 2, 2026