Aichi, Japan Shrine Visit Report 2026 Kota Town No.5 Okusa Jinja

June 2, 2026

Okusa Shrine in Kota, Japan — An Old Local Shrine Guided by Giant Stone Lanterns

On May 22, 2026, after leaving Mikawa Sarutahiko Shrine in Kota, Japan, I stopped by Okusa Shrine.
Okusa Shrine was not my original destination, but on the way to Mikawa Sarutahiko Shrine I noticed a pair of giant stone lanterns and a large torii gate from the road. On the way back, I stopped the car and visited the shrine.
Okusa Shrine is an old local shrine said to have begun when Onamuchi no Mikoto was enshrined from Mount Miwa in Nara. In 2025, the shrine marked the 100th anniversary of its relocation, and projects to rebuild the kagura hall and repair the main shrine building are also underway.
This article records what I saw on site: the shrine grounds, stonework, deities, and local faith preserved in Okusa.

Entrance of Okusa Shrine in Kota, Japan, with giant stone lanterns — This is the entrance of Okusa Shrine seen from the road. Giant stone lanterns stand on both sides, and a large torii gate can be seen behind them. On the way to Mikawa Sarutahiko Shrine, these stone lanterns and the torii gate caught my eye, and they became the reason I stopped here on the way back.

Giant stone lantern at Okusa Shrine in Kota, Japan — This is a large stone lantern standing at the entrance of the shrine grounds. An LED light has been installed inside the lantern chamber, so it appears to be used practically as a lantern. Even from the entrance, it shows that this shrine has long been valued as a local guardian shrine.

Giant stone lantern of Okusa Shrine visible from the road — This giant stone lantern is clearly visible from the road. It stands on a large stone base and gives the shrine entrance a strong presence. Its size is enough to make anyone interested in stonework want to stop and take a closer look.

Large torii gate and depth of the grounds at Okusa Shrine — This photo looks into the shrine grounds from the front of the torii gate. Trees spread out on both sides, and the shrine building can be seen farther inside. The large torii gate and straight approach create a clear path toward the center of the shrine.

History monument of Okusa Shrine in Kota, Japan — This is the history monument of Okusa Shrine. The enshrined deities and shrine history are carved into the stone. As a stone monument, it is an important record that preserves the history of the shrine on site.

Kasuga stone lanterns and Chukonhi memorial at Okusa Shrine — Kasuga Stone Lanterns are placed here. The stone monument is a Chukonhi memorial, honoring those who died in war.

Kasuga stone lantern at Okusa Shrine from another angle — A deer is carved into the lantern chamber, which is one sign of a Kasuga Stone Lantern. It is part of the decorative design of the lantern.

The other Kasuga stone lantern at Okusa Shrine — The Kasuga Stone Lanterns stand as a pair, guarding the stone monument.

Water purification area of Okusa Shrine — This is the water purification area of Okusa Shrine. A large stone water basin is placed under the roof. It is set near the entrance of the shrine grounds as a place to purify the hands and mouth before worship.

Chozu water basin at Okusa Shrine — This is the place where visitors purify their hands and mouth before worship. A colorful slide can be seen behind it, and a dragon is placed at the center of the water basin.

In front of the worship hall at Okusa Shrine — Kasuga Stone Lanterns and komainu guardian lions stand in pairs in front of the worship hall.

Kasuga Stone Lantern in front of the worship hall at Okusa Shrine — This is an offered stone lantern placed in front of the worship hall. Fine decorative details can be seen, and it harmonizes with the view in front of the shrine building. Stone lanterns are especially noticeable throughout the grounds of Okusa Shrine.

Komainu guardian lion at Okusa Shrine — This stone komainu guardian lion stands in front of the worship hall. Its mouth and posture have a strong expression, and it stands in a position to welcome visitors. Together, the pair of komainu tighten the atmosphere in front of the worship hall.

The other stone komainu at Okusa Shrine — This is the other stone komainu. Its weathered stone surface and powerful form are impressive. It gives the feeling of having guarded the front of the shrine building for many years.

Base and inscription of a komainu at Okusa Shrine — This is the base of the komainu. The year 1924 is carved into the stone base. Komainu are guardians of faith, but they are also stone objects that preserve records of dedication.

Front of the worship hall at Okusa Shrine — This is the front of the worship hall at Okusa Shrine. A shimenawa sacred rope and offertory box are set at the center, and stone lanterns and komainu are arranged in front of the hall.

Sub-shrine behind the right side of the worship hall at Okusa Shrine — A small shrine can be seen behind the stone lantern.

Another building and Kasuga Stone Lantern at Okusa Shrine — This photo shows another building in the shrine grounds and a Kasuga Stone Lantern. Stone lanterns are placed not only in front of the main shrine building, but also in other parts of the grounds.

Notice about rebuilding the kagura hall at Okusa Shrine — This notice was posted in the shrine grounds. It explains the rebuilding of the kagura hall and repair work for the main shrine building. It also shows the current movement at Okusa Shrine, which marked the 100th anniversary of its relocation in 2025. The kagura hall is a place for music and dance offered to the deities, but it is scheduled to be rebuilt due to aging. A crowdfunding campaign was used to raise support.

Stone pillar of Okusa Shrine — The year 1899 is carved into this stone pillar.

War memorial Chureihi at Okusa Shrine — A war memorial Chureihi can also be seen in the shrine grounds. It stands in a high place surrounded by trees, quietly preserving local memory.

Area around the Chureihi memorial at Okusa Shrine — This is a wider view of the area around the Chureihi memorial. Surrounded by natural stones and planting, it forms a quiet memorial space within the shrine grounds.

Chukonhi memorial at Okusa Shrine — This is a Chukonhi memorial seen in the shrine grounds. In addition to local faith, the grounds also contain stone monuments that preserve local memory.

At a Glance

Shrine name	Okusa Shrine
Location	21 Negiyashiki, Okusa, Kota Town, Nukata District, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Former shrine rank	Former village shrine
Main deity	Onamuchi no Mikoto
Founding tradition	The shrine is said to have been founded in 768, when Onamuchi no Mikoto was enshrined from Mount Miwa in Nara.
Recent milestone	Okusa Shrine marked the 100th anniversary of its relocation in 2025.
Main features	Giant stone lanterns, large torii gate, worship hall, purification area, stone water basin, komainu, history monument, Chureihi memorial, and Chukonhi memorial
Focus of this article	This article records Okusa Shrine as a local guardian shrine, old shrine, kagura site, and place of stonework.

Historical Timeline

Year	Event
768	Onamuchi no Mikoto is said to have been enshrined from Mount Miwa in Nara, marking the founding tradition of Okusa Shrine.
1521	Okusa domain lord Matsudaira Chikatoshi is said to have re-enshrined the deity and entrusted the management of the shrine and temple to Takahashi Mitsumune.
1867	The shrine was renamed Okusa Shrine, and eight local guardian shrines in the Okusa area are said to have been combined into it.
1925	The shrine grounds were expanded and greatly renovated, shaping the present form of Okusa Shrine.
2025	The shrine marked the 100th anniversary of its relocation, and projects to rebuild the kagura hall and repair the main shrine building are underway.

Enshrined Deities

Main deity	Onamuchi no Mikoto is the main deity of Okusa Shrine. He is said to have been enshrined from Mount Miwa in Nara and is known as a deity connected with land, nation-building, and local faith.
Combined deities	Okusa Shrine also enshrines several combined deities connected with protection from misfortune, ritual prayer, strength, medicine, guidance, agriculture, metalwork, and Hachiman faith. These include deities such as Susanoo no Mikoto, Amenokoyane no Mikoto, Tajikarao no Mikoto, Sukunahikona no Mikoto, Sarutahiko no Mikoto, Ukanomitama no Mikoto, Kanayamahiko no Kami, and Emperor Ojin.

Combined Shrines and Related Local Faith

Local guardian shrines in Okusa	Okusa Shrine is said to have combined eight local guardian shrines from the Okusa area in 1867. This shows how several local forms of faith were gathered into Okusa Shrine.
Mikuwa Shrine, Akiba Shrine, and Ujigami Shrine	Records state that Mikuwa Shrine in Okusa Hazama, Akiba Shrine in Okusa Irisaka, and Ujigami Shrine in Okusa Negiyashiki were moved into the shrine grounds in 1877.
Kamei Shrine, Naiku Shrine, Hachiman Shrine, Hakusan Shrine, and others	In 1909, Kamei Shrine, Naiku Shrine, Hachiman Shrine, Hakusan Shrine, Rokujo Shrine, Myojin Shrine, and others are said to have been combined into Okusa Shrine.
Shrines recorded as sub-shrines	Shaguji Shrine, Kanayama Shrine, Goza Shrine, Sho-Hachiman Shrine, Akiba Shrine, Mikuwa Shrine, and Ujigami Shrine are recorded as sub-shrines that were later combined.
How this article treats them	This article does not treat these as independent present-day sub-shrines. Instead, it records them as local forms of faith that were combined into Okusa Shrine over time.

What Is Okusa Shrine?

Okusa Shrine is a local guardian shrine in the Okusa area of Kota, Japan.

The main deity is Onamuchi no Mikoto. According to the shrine tradition, he was enshrined from Mount Miwa in Nara. The faith connected with Mount Miwa and Onamuchi no Mikoto is deeply related to land, nation-building, and local protection.

Okusa Shrine marked the 100th anniversary of its relocation in 2025. Projects to rebuild the kagura hall and repair the main shrine building are also underway. The notice posted in the shrine grounds shows that local people are working to preserve this shrine for the next generation.

A Shrine I Stopped at Because of Giant Stone Lanterns

The reason I stopped at Okusa Shrine was the giant stone lanterns and torii gate I saw from the road on the way to Mikawa Sarutahiko Shrine.

The large stone lanterns visible from the roadside made a strong impression. On the way back, I stopped the car and visited the shrine. Inside, I found a larger shrine ground than I expected and many stone objects.

The giant stone lanterns at the entrance work almost like a landmark announcing the presence of the shrine from a distance. They also show the scale of local faith preserved at Okusa Shrine.

Reading Okusa Shrine through Stonework

Stonework stands out strongly throughout the grounds of Okusa Shrine.

Giant stone lanterns, a large torii gate, komainu, offered Kasuga Stone Lanterns, the stone water basin at the purification area, the history monument, Chureihi memorial, and Chukonhi memorial are all placed within the spacious shrine grounds. Together, they record the shrine’s history and local memory.

The giant stone lanterns at the entrance are especially powerful. Even before reaching the worship hall, the stonework makes the presence of the shrine clear.

Local Guardian Shrine and the Memory of Kagura

Okusa Shrine has long been valued as a local guardian shrine.

The 100th anniversary relocation project for Okusa Shrine also introduces Okusa Kagura, a traditional sacred performance that local children have continued to perform. A shrine is not only a place where deities are enshrined, but also a place where local festivals and culture are passed on.

The rebuilding of the kagura hall and repairs to the main shrine building are not just construction work. They are efforts to pass local memory and festival culture to the next generation.

After Visiting Okusa Shrine

Okusa Shrine was not originally my planned destination.

However, after being drawn in by the giant stone lanterns and torii gate, I found that this was an old shrine with a long tradition and deep local support.

Okusa Shrine brings together old shrine history, the role of a local guardian shrine, the memory of kagura, and many stone objects.

I happened to stop here on the way back from Mikawa Sarutahiko Shrine, but through its stonework, I was able to feel the history and faith of Okusa in Kota.

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Visited on: May 22, 2026
Written on: May 24, 2026