Nagoya, Japan Shrine Visit Report 2026 Atsuta No.35 Matsuoka Jinja

May 9, 2026

Matsuoka Shrine in Atsuta Ward, Japan — A Small Shrine Near Atsuta Jingu Connected with the Matsuoka Family

On May 6, 2026, I visited Matsuoka Shrine in Atsuta Ward, Nagoya.
Matsuoka Shrine is a small shrine located near Atsuta Jingu.
The shrine grounds are not large, but its history board connects this small place with the legend of Yamato Takeru’s eastern expedition, the ancestral faith of the Matsuoka family, and even one scene from Japan’s modern diplomatic history.

History board of Matsuoka Shrine in Atsuta Ward Nagoya Japan — The history board explains the enshrined deity, the relationship with the Matsuoka family, the shrine’s former role as a subordinate shrine of Atsuta Jingu, and the formal visit by Yosuke Matsuoka.

According to the history board at the shrine, the enshrined deity of Matsuoka Shrine is Owari no Tanakuma no Muraji no Mikoto.
He is described as a figure who followed Yamato Takeru during the eastern expedition and achieved military merit in various places.

Matsuoka Shrine is said to have been worshiped by the Matsuoka family as an ancestral shrine, and also to have long been maintained as a subordinate shrine of Atsuta Jingu.
Although it is a small shrine, it can be understood as a place that preserves both older faith around Atsuta Jingu and the memory of the Matsuoka family.

Residential area seen from the grounds of Matsuoka Shrine in Nagoya Japan — From inside the shrine grounds, you can see that Matsuoka Shrine now remains within a residential area. Beyond the stone lantern and trees, modern buildings can be seen. The forested area in the distance is Atsuta Jingu.

Stone lantern and komainu at Matsuoka Shrine in Nagoya Japan — Komainu guardian statues and stone lanterns remain inside the shrine grounds. Their aged stone texture gives a strong presence, even within this small urban shrine.

Komainu at Matsuoka Shrine in Nagoya Japan — Komainu guardian statues and stone lanterns remain inside the shrine grounds. Their aged stone texture gives a strong presence, even within this small urban shrine.

Inside the grounds of Matsuoka Shrine in Atsuta Ward Nagoya Japan — A small shrine building stands deeper inside the grounds, protected by a fence and gate. It is not a large shrine, but its sacred structure is clearly preserved.

Small shrine building at Matsuoka Shrine in Nagoya Japan — A small shrine building stands deeper inside the grounds, protected by a fence and gate. It is not a large shrine, but its sacred structure is clearly preserved.

Matsuoka Shrine seen from the street in Atsuta Ward Nagoya Japan — Matsuoka Shrine seen from the street. Behind the high boundary, the small shrine grounds remain with trees and stone elements.

Forest of Atsuta Jingu seen from near Matsuoka Shrine in Nagoya Japan — The forested area in the distance is Atsuta Jingu. This photo shows how close Matsuoka Shrine is to Atsuta Jingu.

At a Glance

Location	8-6 Morigo-cho, Atsuta Ward, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Shrine Name	Matsuoka Shrine
Main Deity	Owari no Tanakuma no Muraji no Mikoto
Related Traditions	Yamato Takeru’s eastern expedition, Owari no Tanakuma no Muraji no Mikoto, and ancestral faith of the Matsuoka family
Historical Character	A shrine said to have been worshiped by the Matsuoka family as an ancestral shrine and maintained as a subordinate shrine of Atsuta Jingu
Visible on Site	History board, shrine building, komainu, stone lanterns, stone markers, and trees inside the grounds
Auxiliary Shrine	Akiba Shrine
Modern Historical Note	This article organizes the formal visit of Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka as August 10, 1940.

The Enshrined Deity of Matsuoka Shrine

Deity	Owari no Tanakuma no Muraji no Mikoto
Reading	Owari no Tanakuma no Muraji no Mikoto
Explanation on the History Board	He is described as a figure who followed Yamato Takeru, a prince of Emperor Keiko, during the eastern expedition and achieved military merit in various places.
Final Tradition	He is said to have died in battle near the foot of Mount Tsukuba, in the area of present-day Ibaraki Prefecture.
Connection with Matsuoka Shrine	The history board says that after Yamato Takeru returned to Owari, he buried the relics of Owari no Tanakuma no Muraji no Mikoto at this site and founded the shrine.
Later Worship	The shrine is said to have later been worshiped by the Matsuoka family as an ancestral shrine and maintained as a subordinate shrine of Atsuta Jingu.

The origin story of Matsuoka Shrine is deeply connected with the legend of Yamato Takeru’s eastern expedition.

According to the shrine’s history board, Owari no Tanakuma no Muraji no Mikoto followed Yamato Takeru and achieved military merit during the expedition.
He is said to have died in battle near present-day Ibaraki Prefecture. Yamato Takeru then buried him there and planted a pine tree as a marker for later generations.

After Yamato Takeru returned to Owari, he is said to have honored the achievements of Owari no Tanakuma no Muraji no Mikoto by burying his relics at this site and founding the shrine. This is the old origin story of Matsuoka Shrine.

The Matsuoka Family and Atsuta Jingu

Matsuoka Shrine is said to have later been worshiped by the Matsuoka family as an ancestral shrine.

The history board also says that Matsuoka Shrine was long maintained as a subordinate shrine of Atsuta Jingu.
Today, it is not located inside the large grounds of Atsuta Jingu, but as a small shrine near Atsuta Jingu, it still shows one layer of faith around Atsuta.

In the early Meiji period, the shrine building of Matsuoka Shrine was transferred to nearby residents, and the shrine became an independent shrine.
On October 26, 1907, it was classified as an unranked shrine.

The Formal Visit by Yosuke Matsuoka

The history board of Matsuoka Shrine says that in 1940, Yosuke Matsuoka, then Foreign Minister of Japan, formally visited the shrine on the occasion of his journey to Europe.

Yosuke Matsuoka is known as the Japanese representative who gave a speech at the League of Nations Assembly on February 24, 1933, and then left the hall together with the Japanese delegation.
On March 27, 1933, the Japanese government formally notified its withdrawal from the League of Nations.

This article does not aim to judge or evaluate Yosuke Matsuoka’s diplomatic policy.
Here, the focus is on the fact that his name appears on the history board of Matsuoka Shrine, and on his movement through the Nagoya area as Foreign Minister in 1940.

Yosuke Matsuoka became Foreign Minister in the second Konoe Cabinet in July 1940.
On August 10, 1940, the month after his appointment, he left Tokyo on a journey toward Ise Jingu for shin’nin hokoku, a formal report of his appointment.

Shin’nin hokoku means reporting a new appointment to the deity in front of a shrine.
In Matsuoka’s case, it can be understood as a formal shrine visit after becoming Foreign Minister.

Because his route passed through Nagoya, this article organizes the formal visit to Matsuoka Shrine, located near Atsuta Jingu and connected with the Matsuoka name, as part of that same journey.
However, I have not found clear evidence that he also visited Atsuta Jingu on the same occasion.

Yosuke Matsuoka and the Matsuoka Family of Matsuoka Shrine

Matsuoka Shrine is said to have been worshiped for a long time as an ancestral shrine of the Matsuoka family, and also as a subordinate shrine of Atsuta Jingu.

On the other hand, Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka came from a Matsuoka family in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Based on the materials currently available, I cannot confirm a direct genealogical connection between the Matsuoka family of Atsuta and Yosuke Matsuoka’s family.

However, the history board of Matsuoka Shrine records that Yosuke Matsuoka formally visited the shrine in 1940.
The shared Matsuoka surname and the shrine’s connection with the Matsuoka family may well have been part of the reason for his visit.

Matsuoka Shrine After World War II

According to the history board, Matsuoka Shrine lost its main shrine building and shrine office in an air raid on May 17, 1945.

After the war, on February 2, 1946, following the abolition of the prewar shrine system, it was registered as a religious corporation.
On July 29, 1946, it became a shrine affiliated with Jinja Honcho, the Association of Shinto Shrines.

The shrine grounds later changed significantly due to postwar land readjustment and the construction of the Atsuta overpass. The main shrine building, the auxiliary Akiba Shrine, the shrine office, and related structures were moved and reorganized into their present positions.

Historical Timeline

AD	Event
Legendary period	Owari no Tanakuma no Muraji no Mikoto is said to have followed Yamato Takeru during the eastern expedition and achieved military merit in various places.
Legendary period	Owari no Tanakuma no Muraji no Mikoto is said to have died in battle near the foot of Mount Tsukuba, in the area of present-day Ibaraki Prefecture.
Legendary period	After Yamato Takeru returned to Owari, he is said to have buried the relics of Owari no Tanakuma no Muraji no Mikoto at this site and founded the shrine.
Later period	The Matsuoka family is said to have worshiped the shrine as an ancestral shrine, and it was also maintained as a subordinate shrine of Atsuta Jingu.
Early Meiji period	The shrine building was transferred to nearby residents, and Matsuoka Shrine became an independent shrine.
1907-10-26	Matsuoka Shrine was classified as an unranked shrine.
1933-02-24	Yosuke Matsuoka gave a speech as the Japanese representative at the League of Nations Assembly and then left the hall with the Japanese delegation.
1933-03-27	The Japanese government formally notified its withdrawal from the League of Nations.
1940-07	Yosuke Matsuoka became Foreign Minister in the second Konoe Cabinet.
1940-08-10	Yosuke Matsuoka left Tokyo on a journey toward Ise Jingu for shin’nin hokoku, a formal report of his appointment. This article organizes his formal visit to Matsuoka Shrine as part of that same journey through Nagoya.
1945-05-17	The shrine lost its main shrine building and shrine office in an air raid.
1946-02-02	Following the abolition of the prewar shrine system, the shrine was registered as a religious corporation.
1946-07-29	Matsuoka Shrine became affiliated with Jinja Honcho, the Association of Shinto Shrines.
Today	Matsuoka Shrine remains near Atsuta Jingu as a small shrine connected with the Matsuoka family.

What the Photos Show

Matsuoka Shrine is a small shrine that remains inside the city.

Inside the grounds, there are a shrine building, a history board, komainu, stone lanterns, stone markers, and trees. Around the shrine, houses and modern buildings can be seen.
It is not a large shrine, but by reading the history board, you can see that several layers of history overlap in this small place.

The komainu and stone lanterns show that Matsuoka Shrine is still maintained as a sacred space today.
The history board also records a range of history, from ancient legend to one fragment of modern diplomatic history.

Why This Shrine Matters

Matsuoka Shrine is a small shrine near Atsuta Jingu.
However, by reading its history board, I could see connections to the legends of Yamato Takeru, the ancestral faith of the Matsuoka family, and even one scene from Japan’s early 20th-century diplomatic history.

Even a small shrine can become a good opportunity to learn this kind of history.

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Written on: May 6, 2026

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