Nagoya, Japan Shrine Visit Report 2026 Nakamura No.3 Tsushima Jinja
Tsushima Shrine — An Urban Shrine Between the High-Rise Buildings of Meieki 5-chome, Nagoya
On July 14, 2026, I visited Tsushima Shrine in Meieki 5-chome, Nakamura Ward, while exploring shrines near Nagoya Station in extreme 36°C heat, or about 97°F.
Tsushima Shrine is an urban shrine surrounded by high-rise buildings, stores, roads, and outdoor air-conditioning units. Within its limited grounds are a stone torii gate, the main shrine building, komainu guardian statues, stone pillars, and a natural rock arrangement.
The distance from the stone torii gate beside the road to the main shrine building is short. Even so, stone monuments, trees, rocks, and a small place of worship are carefully arranged within this compact space.
The exact founding date and detailed history of this Tsushima Shrine remain unknown. Several sources identify Susanoo-no-Kami, Kagutsuchi-no-Kami, and Atsuta Okami as the deities worshipped here.
Photographic Record of Tsushima Shrine
001 Stone Torii Gate and Tsushima Shrine Between the Buildings
This is the entrance to Tsushima Shrine as seen from the road. A stone pillar engraved with the name “Tsushima Shrine” stands to the right of the torii gate. Numerous stone pillars form a boundary around the grounds, while high-rise buildings and mechanical equipment rise immediately behind the shrine.
002 Stone Komainu Guardian Statue
This is one of the pair of stone komainu guardian statues placed in front of the main shrine building. The facial features, curled mane, chest, legs, and tail remain relatively clear.
003 Matching Stone Komainu Guardian Statue
This is the matching komainu on the opposite side. The two statues are positioned as guardians of the main shrine building.
004 Main Shrine Building Above a Natural Rock Arrangement
The main shrine building stands on a raised arrangement of large and small natural stones. The rocks vary in color, form, and texture, and a step-like path leads toward the building. Tall lanterns with stone pillars and wooden light chambers stand on both sides.
005 Tsushima Shrine Surrounded by High-Rise Buildings
This view from across the road shows Tsushima Shrine within the surrounding cityscape. The stone torii gate and trees stand among high-rise buildings, utility poles, overhead wires, and storefronts, clearly showing the contrast between the shrine and modern urban development.
About Tsushima Shrine
| Name | Tsushima Shrine |
|---|---|
| Location | Near 5-38-3 Meieki, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan |
| Founded | Unknown |
| Deities | Several sources identify Susanoo-no-Kami, Kagutsuchi-no-Kami, and Atsuta Okami as the deities worshipped here. |
| Main Features Observed | Stone torii gate, stone shrine marker, boundary of stone pillars, main shrine building, natural rock arrangement, paired komainu guardian statues, lanterns, and trees |
| Main Focus of This Article | This article documents the shrine as an urban place of worship, focusing on its stone monuments, komainu statues, and natural rock arrangement. |
Deities Worshipped at the Shrine
| Susanoo-no-Kami | Susanoo is the central deity of the Tsushima faith. He has long been worshipped as a deity who protects people from epidemics, disasters, and misfortune. |
|---|---|
| Kagutsuchi-no-Kami | Kagutsuchi is known as a deity of fire. The specific reason this deity came to be worshipped at this shrine has not been confirmed. |
| Atsuta Okami | Atsuta Okami is associated with Atsuta Jingu and the religious traditions of Nagoya and the wider Owari region. The date and circumstances in which this deity came to be worshipped here have not been confirmed. |
| Documentation Policy | The names of these deities appear in several sources, but no shrine-specific historical record or document concerning their enshrinement has been confirmed. This article therefore does not make firm claims about when or why they were brought together at this shrine. |
Tsushima Faith and Protection From Epidemics
Tsushima Shrine in Tsushima City, Aichi Prefecture, is the center of the Tsushima faith connected with Tsushima shrines and Tenno shrines throughout Japan. Historically, it was known as Tsushima Gozu Tenno Shrine and was widely worshipped for protection from epidemics and other disasters.
The Tsushima Shrine in Meieki 5-chome is believed to belong to the same religious tradition. However, I could not confirm when the deity was formally enshrined here from the main Tsushima Shrine or when this shrine was established at its present location.
If Susanoo-no-Kami, Kagutsuchi-no-Kami, and Atsuta Okami are all worshipped here, the shrine brings together traditions associated with protection from epidemics, reverence for the deity of fire, and the Atsuta faith within a single compact site.
Natural Rock Arrangement and the Main Shrine Building
The large number of natural stones arranged in front of the main shrine building was the most memorable feature of this visit.
Rather than constructing the entire base from evenly cut stone, the shrine uses natural rocks of different colors, shapes, and textures. The main shrine building stands above them, while the lanterns on both sides help create the appearance of a small rocky hill at the rear of the grounds.
Although the distance from the stone torii gate to the main shrine building is short, the raised rock arrangement gives the grounds a greater sense of height and depth.
A Pair of Stone Komainu Guardian Statues
A pair of stone komainu guardian statues faces the approach in front of the main shrine building.
The outlines of both statues remain relatively clear, including their faces, curled manes, legs, and tails.
Historical Timeline
| Period | Event |
|---|---|
| Founding unknown | The exact founding date, the date on which the deity or deities were brought here, and the date when the shrine was established at its present location have not been confirmed. |
| Around 1898 | Another article reports that a shrine appears near the present location on a map dating from around 1898. However, it has not been confirmed whether the shrine was later relocated. |
| 20th century | The area around Nagoya Station became increasingly urbanized with roads, railways, commercial buildings, and high-rise development. |
| Today | Tsushima Shrine remains in Meieki 5-chome with its stone torii gate, main shrine building, komainu guardian statues, natural rock arrangement, lanterns, and trees. |
An Urban Shrine in Meieki 5-chome
Tsushima Shrine is an urban shrine located in a developed district near Nagoya Station. Its limited grounds contain a stone torii gate, a pair of komainu guardian statues, a natural rock arrangement, and the main shrine building.
Although I could not confirm the shrine’s detailed founding history, this visit allowed me to document the rock arrangement in front of the main shrine building and the pair of stone komainu that remain within this urban setting.
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Recorded on July 14, 2026
Written on July 16, 2026