Nagoya, Japan Shrine Visit Report 2026 Atsuta No.33 Takaradasha

May 3, 2026

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.

Entrance and torii gate of Takarada-sha Shrine in Hachiban Atsuta Ward Nagoya Japan — Takarada-sha stands on a corner of a residential street. In a city, when trees grow densely in one spot, there is a good chance that the place is a shrine.

Main shrine building of Takarada-sha Shrine in Nagoya Japan — This photo was taken after passing the main shrine building and looking back. The komainu and stone lanterns can be seen clearly.

Torii gate komainu and shrine building at Takarada-sha Shrine in Nagoya Japan — Beyond the torii gate, the komainu and shrine building are visible. The axis of the approach is clear, and even inside the city, the shrine still keeps a proper shrine layout.

Stone lantern and komainu at Takarada-sha Shrine in Nagoya Japan — This is the stone lantern on the left side. Its roof, fire box, shaft, and base remain clearly visible, giving it a strong presence as a donated stone structure.

Komainu and donation pedestal at Takarada-sha Shrine in Nagoya Japan — This komainu stands on a pedestal engraved with the word “donation.” Its powerful expression and the small cub-like figure make it especially memorable.

Right-side komainu at Takarada-sha Shrine in Nagoya Japan — When you walk around the shrine, you can see the depth of the grounds and the placement of the trees. From this angle, the atmosphere of the shrine grounds becomes clearer.

Komainu and stone lanterns in front of Takarada-sha Shrine building in Nagoya Japan — Komainu and stone lanterns are placed in front of the shrine building. The stone steps, fence, and shrine building together create a well-arranged worship space.

Right-side komainu and stone lantern at Takarada-sha Shrine in Nagoya Japan — Stone lanterns remain inside the shrine grounds. Their aged stone texture gives a sense of the shrine’s history.

Left-side komainu and stone lantern at Takarada-sha Shrine in Nagoya Japan — A komainu and stone lantern stand beside the steps, almost as if guarding the way toward the shrine building.

Stone lanterns lined up in the grounds of Takarada-sha Shrine in Nagoya Japan — Stone lanterns stand in a line inside the shrine grounds.

Water basin at Takarada-sha Shrine in Nagoya Japan — Inside the shrine grounds, there was a large water basin engraved with the characters for “clear water.” Its rounded natural-stone form gives it the atmosphere of an old purification basin.

Opposite entrance of Takarada-sha Shrine in Nagoya Japan — Seen from the opposite direction, the relationship between the torii gate, approach, and shrine building becomes easy to understand. It is a quiet entrance surrounded by greenery.

Stone marker engraved with the name of Takarada-sha Shrine in Nagoya Japan — This stone marker is engraved with the shrine name. Standing beside the torii gate and approach, it identifies this place as Takarada-sha 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.

Japanese Outdoor Lanterns — Stone Lanterns for Sale From Japan

Japanese Stone Animal Statues for Sale — Komainu & Inari Fox Sculptures From Japan

Writen on : May 2, 2026

Back to blog

Country/region