Mie, Japan Shrine Visit Report 2026 Nagashima Town No.1 Kusunoki Jinja

May 21, 2026

Kusunoki Shrine in Nagashima, Kuwana, Mie, Japan — The Memory of Nishikawa Hachiman Shrine, Camphor Trees, and the Ise Bay Typhoon

On May 13, 2026, I visited Kusunoki Shrine in Nishikawa, Nagashima-cho, Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture, Japan.
The first thing that stands out here is the grove of camphor trees, which also connects directly to the shrine’s name. The shrine stands in a wooded grove between the village and the rice fields. After passing through the stone torii gate, visitors enter a quiet precinct surrounded by trees.
Kusunoki Shrine is said to have originated from an older shrine once known as Nishikawa Hachiman Shrine.

This article records Kusunoki Shrine not simply as a shrine building, but as a place where the camphor tree grove, the legend of the blue-and-red stone, stone torii gate, stone lanterns, komainu guardian lions, natural stone water basin, and the memory of Nagashima and the Ise Bay Typhoon all come together.

Camphor tree grove of Kusunoki Shrine seen across rice fields in Nagashima, Kuwana, Mie, Japan — Beyond the rice fields, a rounded green grove can be seen. This is the sacred grove of Kusunoki Shrine. The rice fields under dark clouds and the bright green camphor trees create a strong contrast, giving a sense of Nagashima’s low-lying waterside landscape. The modern solar panels on the left also create an interesting contrast with the old shrine grove.

Shrine name marker and Russo-Japanese War monument at Kusunoki Shrine — This photo shows the shrine name marker and several stone monuments at Kusunoki Shrine. Behind the marker, monuments such as the Russo-Japanese War memorial can be seen. They show that the shrine has preserved not only religious faith, but also the memory of the local community.

Stone torii gate and approach leading toward the worship hall at Kusunoki Shrine — Beyond the stone torii gate, the approach leads straight toward the shrine buildings. The path is surrounded by trees, mainly camphor trees, and the farther one walks, the more the outside scenery seems to fade away.

Torii gate and depth of the shrine grounds at Kusunoki Shrine — This view looks through the torii gate into the shrine grounds. The deep green trees show how Kusunoki Shrine is protected within its grove.

Area in front of the worship hall with stone lanterns and komainu at Kusunoki Shrine — This is the area in front of the worship hall. Stone lanterns and komainu guardian lions stand on both sides, with the shrine building beyond them. The stone structures arranged within the wooded grounds give the shrine space a strong sense of depth.

Stone lantern standing in front of the worship hall at Kusunoki Shrine — This stone lantern stands in front of the worship hall. The presence of the stone lanterns helps define the path from the approach to the shrine building.

Large stone lantern remaining at Kusunoki Shrine — This large stone lantern remains in the shrine grounds. It stands on a high base, with its fire box, roof, and jewel-shaped top still clearly visible. It is one of the most impressive stone structures at Kusunoki Shrine.

Decorative stone lantern at Kusunoki Shrine — This stone lantern has decorative details. Its fire box, middle platform, and shaft show careful design, preserving the beauty of a donated stone lantern. Looking closely at these stone details reveals the depth of local faith.

Stone lantern remaining in the grounds of Kusunoki Shrine — This is another stone lantern in the shrine grounds. The presence of several stone lanterns with different forms shows that Kusunoki Shrine has been supported by local offerings over a long period of time.

Agyo komainu guardian lion in front of the worship hall at Kusunoki Shrine — This is the Agyo komainu of Kusunoki Shrine, with its mouth open. The character for “offering” can be seen on the base. Its expression remains clear, and it has a strong presence as a stone guardian in front of the worship hall.

Ungyo komainu guardian lion in front of the worship hall at Kusunoki Shrine — This is the other komainu, the Ungyo figure, with its mouth closed. It forms a pair with the Agyo figure. Comparing the two, the difference in expression and posture can be seen.

Historical information board of Kusunoki Shrine in Nagashima, Kuwana, Mie — This is the information board at the site. It explains that the location of Kusunoki Shrine was originally the site of Nishikawa Hachiman Shrine, which is described as the oldest shrine in the northern Nagashima area.

Sub-shrine at Kusunoki Shrine — This is a small sub-shrine within the grounds of Kusunoki Shrine. Trees grow around the shrine buildings, showing that the precinct contains several smaller spaces of worship.

Sub-shrine and area around the main shrine building at Kusunoki Shrine — This sub-shrine remains near the main shrine building. It is enshrined in a quiet place surrounded by trees and stonework, adding depth to the sacred space of Kusunoki Shrine.

Stone lantern in front of a sub-shrine at Kusunoki Shrine — This stone lantern stands in front of a sub-shrine. Its simple form blends naturally with the stonework and trees surrounding the shrine building.

Small stone lantern near a sub-shrine at Kusunoki Shrine — This small stone lantern remains near the sub-shrine. Unlike the larger stone lanterns, it has a modest form and stands quietly in the deeper part of the shrine grounds.

Stone lantern in front of the main shrine building at Kusunoki Shrine — This stone lantern stands in front of the main shrine building. It supports the sacred atmosphere created by the stone steps, stone walls, wooden fence, and main shrine building aligned together.

Sacred tree around the main shrine building at Kusunoki Shrine — This sacred tree stands near the main shrine building. It adds depth to the sacred space of Kusunoki Shrine.

Yukimi-style stone lantern in the grounds of Kusunoki Shrine — This is a Yukimi-style stone lantern remaining in the shrine grounds. This type of stone lantern is popular both in Japan and overseas, and it gives the area a strong Japanese garden atmosphere.

Yukimi-style stone lantern placed in the garden at Kusunoki Shrine — This Yukimi-style stone lantern stands among greenery. The presence of a Yukimi stone lantern gives the shrine grounds a calm Japanese garden feeling.

Older stone lantern with a simple form at Kusunoki Shrine — This stone lantern preserves an older, simpler form. Its roof and shaft give a sense of age. The presence of several lanterns in the grounds reveals layers of offerings over time.

Water purification shelter at Kusunoki Shrine — This is the water purification shelter of Kusunoki Shrine. Under the roof is a large natural stone water basin. For a shrine in a waterside region, the presence of water and stone feels especially strong here.

Natural stone water basin at Kusunoki Shrine — This large water basin uses the natural form of the stone. The character for “water” is carved on the front, and the basin preserves the shape of the stone rather than being cut into a standard rectangular form.

Dragon water spout and natural stone basin at Kusunoki Shrine — A black dragon water spout is placed beside the stone basin. The shrine grove, stone, water, and dragon come together in one space, strengthening the natural and sacred atmosphere of Kusunoki Shrine.

1918 Siberian Expedition monument at Kusunoki Shrine — This is the 1918 Siberian Expedition monument remaining in the shrine grounds. The inscription uses an old kanji spelling for Siberia. It shows that the shrine preserves not only religious faith, but also the memory of the local community in modern history.

Russo-Japanese War monument and other stone monuments at Kusunoki Shrine — These are stone monuments including a Russo-Japanese War memorial. They are not the main subject of the article, but they are important because they show that Kusunoki Shrine has also served as a place that preserves local memory.

Camphor tree grove surrounding Kusunoki Shrine — This is the sacred grove of Kusunoki Shrine. As the shrine’s name suggests, the grounds are surrounded by camphor trees. Rather than feeling like a shrine placed inside a residential area, it feels as if the shrine buildings are protected inside a grove.

At a Glance

Location	2196 Nishikawa, Nagashima-cho, Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture, Japan
Name	Kusunoki Shrine
Former name and origin	The shrine is said to originate from Nishikawa Hachiman Shrine.
Main deity	Hondawake no Mikoto, along with 10 other deities
Former shrine rank	Village shrine
Main features	Camphor tree grove, stone torii gate, worship hall, main shrine building, stone lanterns, komainu guardian lions, natural stone water basin, dragon water spout, and stone monuments
Related local history	Nagashima, Nishikawa, the lower Kiso Three Rivers area, and the Ise Bay Typhoon
Focus of this article	This article records the shrine space surrounded by camphor trees, along with its stone structures, origin traditions, and the disaster memory of Nagashima.

The Origin of Kusunoki Shrine — Nishikawa Hachiman Shrine and the Blue-and-Red Stone Legend

The exact founding of Kusunoki Shrine is not clearly known. According to shrine tradition, sometime around 1573 to 1592, Nishimura Magozaemon followed a divine message and enshrined a blue-and-red stone together with the villagers as the local guardian deity of Nishikawa Village. The shrine was then called Nishikawa Hachiman Shrine.

Another shrine-visit record introduces a more detailed version of the legend. Around 1588, Nishimura Magozaemon, a farmer from Hirakata Village, was fishing in the Shinohashi River, now connected with the Kiso River area, when a blue-and-red stone was caught in his net. Afterward, a message received in a dream led the villagers to enshrine the stone as the guardian deity of Nishikawa Village.

What makes this tradition especially interesting is that the origin of the shrine is connected with stone, river, and fishing. The story of a blue-and-red stone being caught in a fishing net and then enshrined as a local guardian fits very naturally with Nagashima as a waterside region.

The Camphor Tree Grove and the Shrine Name

As the name Kusunoki Shrine suggests, the shrine grounds are surrounded by a grove centered on camphor trees.

The grove is mainly made up of camphor trees, and the photos clearly show that the entire shrine is wrapped in trees. The grove seen across the rice fields feels less like a small shrine in a residential area and more like a shrine protected by a local forest.

Shrine tradition says that camphor tree branches once spread widely around this area, and that Hachiman Shrine stood within that grove. Another tradition says that during Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s military campaigns to Korea from 1592 to 1598, a large camphor tree was used for building warships.

For this reason, Kusunoki Shrine is best understood not only by looking at the buildings, but as a sacred space surrounded by a camphor tree grove.

Nagashima and the Memory of the Ise Bay Typhoon

The 1959 Ise Bay Typhoon is important when discussing Nagashima, where Kusunoki Shrine is located.

Typhoon Vera, known in Japan as the Ise Bay Typhoon, made landfall on September 26, 1959. It struck the Ise Bay area, and near the mouth of the Kiso Three Rivers, abnormal storm tides caused embankments to break and brought severe damage. Nagashima and Kisosaki are recorded as areas deeply connected with the disaster.

This article does not claim that Kusunoki Shrine itself suffered specific damage from the typhoon based only on the photos and materials used here. However, because the shrine stands in Nagashima, within the lower Kiso Three Rivers region, the town’s memory of flood damage and recovery is worth including as part of the background.

Reading Kusunoki Shrine through Stone Structures

One of the strongest elements in the photos is the number of stone structures.

The stone torii gate, stone lanterns along the approach, natural stone water basin, dragon water spout, komainu guardian lions, and stone monuments are all gathered within the shrine grounds.

The stone lanterns are especially important. There are several lanterns of different forms: large lanterns, older-looking smaller lanterns, and donated lanterns. This shows that the shrine was not created all at once, but has been supported by local people over a long period of time.

The water basin is also notable. It uses the natural shape of the stone, with the character for “water” carved into it, and a dragon water spout placed nearby. It is a shrine-like stone form that preserves the stone itself, and it becomes one of the central visual elements of this article.

Historical Timeline

AD	Event
c. 1573–1592	According to shrine tradition, Nishimura Magozaemon followed a divine message and enshrined a blue-and-red stone as the local guardian deity of Nishikawa Village. The shrine was called Nishikawa Hachiman Shrine.
c. 1588	A shrine-visit record introduces a tradition in which a blue-and-red stone was caught in a net while fishing in the Shinohashi River, now connected with the Kiso River area.
c. 1592–1598	According to tradition, a large camphor tree was used for building warships during Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s military campaigns to Korea.
1868–1912	Several village shrines are said to have been merged into the shrine.
c. 1907–1909	As part of the shrine consolidation movement, several shrines and sub-shrines were merged, and the shrine was reorganized as Kusunoki Shrine.
1918	The 1918 Siberian Expedition monument in the shrine grounds confirms that this memory was recorded in stone on site.
1959	The Ise Bay Typhoon caused severe damage along the Ise Bay coast. Nagashima and Kisosaki are recorded as areas that suffered major damage.
Today	Kusunoki Shrine remains surrounded by camphor trees and stone structures, preserving the memory of Nishikawa in Nagashima.

Main Deity and Enshrined Deities

Main deity	Hondawake no Mikoto. This deity is known as a Hachiman deity and is identified with Emperor Ojin. This connects naturally with the tradition that Kusunoki Shrine originated from Nishikawa Hachiman Shrine.
Other enshrined deities	Mie Prefecture shrine information lists the shrine as enshrining “Hondawake no Mikoto and 10 other deities.” However, the specific names of those 10 deities could not be confirmed from the official information available here, so this article does not identify them in detail.
How this article treats the shrine	This article treats Kusunoki Shrine as a shrine with a Hachiman-faith background centered on Hondawake no Mikoto. It also records the shrine as a place where multiple local beliefs were layered through mergers around 1868–1912.

Sub-shrines and Former Shrines Merged into Kusunoki Shrine

Sub-shrine visible today	A small sub-shrine can be seen in the grounds, but the deity name could not be confirmed. For that reason, this article does not identify the deity of the sub-shrine.
Nishikawa Hachiman Shrine	This is considered the predecessor of Kusunoki Shrine. It is said to have begun around 1573–1592, when a blue-and-red stone was enshrined as the local guardian deity of Nishikawa Village.
Shimosakate Shinmei Shrine	This is said to be one of the former shrines merged into Kusunoki Shrine around 1909. From the name Shinmei Shrine, it can be understood as a shrine connected with Shinmei faith, but this article does not identify its deity in detail.
Kamisakate Shrine	This is said to be one of the former shrines merged into Kusunoki Shrine. Since the detailed deity and history could not be confirmed, this article records the name only.
Chikura Shinmei Shrine	This is said to be one of the former shrines merged into Kusunoki Shrine. From the name Shinmei Shrine, it can be understood as related to Shinmei faith, but the deity is not identified here.
Shinsho Kasuga Shrine	This is said to be one of the former shrines merged into Kusunoki Shrine. It can be understood as a shrine connected with Kasuga faith.
Matsunoki Ubuyama Shrine	This is said to be one of the former shrines merged into Kusunoki Shrine. Since the detailed deity and character could not be confirmed, this article records the name only.
Sugie Inari Shrine	This is said to be one of the former shrines merged into Kusunoki Shrine. It can be understood as a shrine connected with Inari faith.
17 sub-shrines	According to the shrine history, the seven shrines listed above and 17 sub-shrines were merged. However, the names and deities of those 17 sub-shrines could not be confirmed, so this article does not identify them in detail.

What the Photos Show

The photos show that Kusunoki Shrine is not made up of the shrine buildings alone.

The camphor tree grove seen beyond the rice fields, the stone torii gate, stone lanterns, komainu guardian lions, natural stone water basin, dragon water spout, wooden fence around the main shrine building, and stone monuments all come together. They show that Kusunoki Shrine is a place where local faith and memory overlap.

The shrine is surrounded by rice fields and houses, showing the low-lying landscape of Nagashima. The photo of the shrine grove seen across the rice fields clearly shows that this shrine belongs to a low-lying waterside landscape protected by levees.

Why This Place Matters

Kusunoki Shrine is not a famous tourist shrine.

However, it is an important place remaining in Nishikawa, Nagashima.

The shrine preserves the tradition of Nishikawa Hachiman Shrine, the legend of the blue-and-red stone, the camphor tree grove, stone torii gate, stone lanterns, komainu, water basin, and stone monuments. In addition, the wider Nagashima area carries the deep memory of the Ise Bay Typhoon.

The history of a town does not remain only in large buildings or tourist landmarks. It can also remain in a grove seen beyond rice fields, a stone torii gate, moss-covered stone lanterns, a natural stone water basin, and old stone monuments. These things also preserve the time experienced by the community and the prayers local people protected.

Kusunoki Shrine is a shrine surrounded by camphor trees, preserving the memory of Nishikawa in Nagashima.

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Written on: May 15, 2026