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