Tokai City, Japan Shrine Visit Report 2026 No.2 Funatsu Jinja
On August 27, 2026, I visited Funatsu Shrine in Nawa-cho, Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture.
Funatsu Shrine stands on a wooded hill in the Funatsu area of Nawa-cho. A long stone staircase leads up from the road to a stone torii gate. Beyond it are spacious shrine grounds, a worship hall, the main sanctuary, several smaller shrines, stone lanterns, komainu guardian statues, a sacred horse statue, and a purification pavilion.
One of the most interesting aspects of Funatsu Shrine is the way its traditions connect with the local place names “Nawa” and “Funatsu,” as well as with the fact that this area was once much closer to the sea.
According to the historical information board at the shrine, Yamato Takeru crossed the sea from Ise during his eastern campaign, landed his boat here, and tied it to a pine tree with a rope. The shrine tradition connects this story with the origins of the place names “Nawa” and “Funatsu.”
However, Tokai City also introduces other theories for the origin of “Nawa,” including one that derives the name from a shortened form of “nami-awa,” meaning sea foam, and another connecting it with an older place name, “Nawa-go.”
Immediately west of the shrine is the Donomae Shell Midden, a historic site designated by Tokai City. According to the city, artifacts dating from the Final Jomon period through the Edo period have been found in this area, which once lay along an ancient shoreline.
Photo Record of Funatsu Shrine
001 Entrance to the Smaller Shrines
This entrance leads toward the smaller shrines within the grounds. A stone shrine marker and stone steps stand among mature trees.
002 Left Side of the Entrance to Funatsu Shrine
Several large stone monuments stand to the left of the entrance.
003 Funatsu Shrine Was Under Construction
Major construction work was underway around the approach on August 27, 2026, but visitors were still able to enter the shrine grounds.
004 Construction Work at Funatsu Shrine
A stone torii stands at the top of the long staircase. Even with the construction work, the basic layout of the approach remains easy to see.
005 Kasuga-Type Stone Lantern
This Kasuga-type stone lantern stands beside the approach. Decorative carving can be seen on the roof, fire box, and platform.
006 Shrine Buildings Opposite the Construction Area
The open shrine grounds are on the opposite side of the construction area, with the worship hall visible in the distance.
007 Sacred Horse on the Right
A large sacred horse statue stands on a stone pedestal. A gold chrysanthemum emblem appears on the horse, and the pedestal is inscribed with characters meaning “dedicated.”
008 Stone Komainu at Funatsu Shrine
This stone komainu guards the front of the shrine building. Its curled mane and open mouth are deeply carved.
009 Matching Komainu
This is the komainu on the opposite side. The two statues have different facial expressions and mouth shapes.
010 Pedestal of the Komainu
The pedestal is inscribed with the year 1922.
011 Shinzen-Type Stone Lantern at Funatsu Shrine
This Shinzen-type stone lantern was dedicated in 1860.
Some of the stone in the lower section was replaced during a later restoration.
012 Restoration Inscription on the Shinzen-Type Lantern
An inscription records that the Shinzen-type stone lantern was restored in 1988.
The granite used for the repaired base has a noticeably different color from the older upper section.
013 Worship Hall of Funatsu Shrine
The worship hall stands at the center of the broad grounds, with stone lanterns and komainu arranged on both sides.
014 Inari Shrine at the Back Right
Many small white fox figures have been placed here. I confirmed that they are made of ceramic.
The large number of dedicated foxes shows that Inari worship continues within the shrine grounds today.
015 Shinzen-Type Stone Lantern at the Inari Shrine
A Shinzen-type stone lantern stands beside the Inari Shrine.
016 Stone Lantern Dated 1852
This stone lantern bears an 1852 inscription and dates from the late Edo period.
017 Looking Back from the Inari Shrine
Several smaller shrines stand around the main sanctuary, with wooden structures placed on stone and concrete bases.
018 Purification Pavilion on the Left Side of the Shrine
A large stone purification basin stands beneath the wooden pavilion.
019 Large Stone Purification Basin
Large characters meaning “purity” are carved on the front. The basin was hollowed from a massive rectangular stone block.
020 Turtle-Shaped Water Spout
A carved turtle sits on a natural stone, with the water outlet formed through its mouth.
021 Opposite Side of the Purification Basin
This impressive stone purification basin dates from 1852.
The inscription includes the occupational title “Ishi-Daiku,” a historical Japanese term for a stone craftsman, together with the maker's name. It is a valuable record of how stone craftsmen were described in Japan in 1852. I wonder whether his descendants also became stonemasons.
022 Could This Be a Stone Mill?
A shimenawa sacred rope and paper shide streamers are attached to this large cylindrical stone object.
Its form resembles a stone mill, but I could not confirm its original purpose.
023 Historical Information Board of Funatsu Shrine
The board records the shrine's deities, founding traditions, and historical accounts. It was an important on-site source for this article.
The board is protected by a roof, although parts of the writing have faded with age.
024 Main Sanctuary Behind the Worship Hall
This is a sacred area that ordinary visitors cannot normally enter except on special occasions or with authorization.
The main sanctuary stands higher than the worship hall and is separated from the outer grounds by stonework and sacred fencing.
025 Beyond the Wire Barrier on the Left
This is part of the sacred inner area surrounding the main sanctuary. Small shrines and stone objects are enshrined in an area separated from the normal visitor route.
026 Two Small Shrines and a Sacred Stone
Two small wooden shrines stand side by side, with what appears to be a sacred stone enshrined beside them.
I could not confirm the names of the two shrines or the history of the stone.
About Funatsu Shrine
| Name | Funatsu Shrine |
|---|---|
| Location | 1 Funatsu, Nawa-cho, Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan |
| Founded | According to shrine tradition, around 400 |
| Main Deities | Takemikazuchi-no-Okami and Shiotsuchi-no-Oji-no-Okami |
| Important Tradition | Yamato Takeru's eastern campaign and traditions concerning the origins of the place names “Nawa” and “Funatsu” |
| Historical Figures | Yamato Takeru, Fujiwara no Tadafumi, Mizuno Tadashige, Tokugawa Mitsutomo, Tokugawa Munechika |
| Nearby Historic Site | Donomae Shell Midden |
| Smaller Shrines | Tsushima Shrine, Tenmangu, Akiba Shrine, Sarutahiko Shrine, Ontake Shrine, Shinmei Shrine, Toyouke Shrine, Yamanokami Shrine, Inari Shrine, and others |
Yamato Takeru and the Traditions Behind “Nawa” and “Funatsu”
The historical information board at Funatsu Shrine connects the origins of this area with the eastern campaign of Yamato Takeru.
According to the shrine tradition, Yamato Takeru crossed the sea from Ise, landed his boat here, and tied it to a pine tree with a rope. The shrine tradition associates the rope and the landing place with the present-day names “Nawa” and “Funatsu.”
However, Tokai City presents other theories. One suggests that “Nawa” developed from a shortened form of “nami-awa,” meaning sea foam, while another connects it with the older place name “Nawa-go.”
For this reason, this article treats the story of Yamato Takeru as a place-name tradition preserved by Funatsu Shrine, rather than as a historically proven origin of the names.
Funatsu Shrine and the Ancient Shoreline
A shell midden is an archaeological site formed when shells from food, animal bones, pottery, stone tools, and other materials discarded by ancient people accumulated over a long period. Such sites can provide evidence about diet, daily life, and even the location of ancient coastlines.
Immediately west of Funatsu Shrine is the Donomae Shell Midden, a historic site designated by Tokai City.
According to Tokai City, the midden lies on the seaward edge of a hill that followed the ancient shoreline. Shells including ark shells, oysters, and other marine species have been found there, together with pottery, ceramics, and stone tools dating from about 2,500 years ago in the Final Jomon period through the Edo period. The excavated objects are preserved in a local museum.
This does not prove the tradition that Yamato Takeru came to this exact location. However, it does show that the area around Funatsu Shrine was once much closer to the sea than it is today.
The wooded hill in the background is Funatsu Shrine.
This area was once part of the coastal environment, but today it is a parking area.
Founding Tradition Around 400
According to shrine tradition, a shrine building was established around the year 400. The shrine was known as Funatsu Daimyojin and was worshiped as the principal guardian shrine of the local Nawa communities.
This date comes from an ancient shrine tradition and should not be understood as a founding year proven by surviving historical documents.
Reconstruction in 939 and Fujiwara no Tadafumi
The shrine tradition states that the shrine buildings were reconstructed in 939 and that four types of rice fields were granted to support shrine activities.
Around the same time, Fujiwara no Tadafumi is said to have visited Funatsu Shrine while traveling east in response to the rebellion of Taira no Masakado. He reportedly prayed for military success and safe travel. The shrine later attracted worship from provincial officials, local landholders, and others.
The Sword Tradition Connected with Minamoto no Yoshitomo
Funatsu Shrine also preserves a sword tradition associated with the death of Minamoto no Yoshitomo.
According to the shrine tradition, after Yoshitomo was killed in Owari Province in 1159, his retainer Shibuya Konnomaru pursued Osada Tadamune. When his horse suddenly refused to move in front of Funatsu Shrine, he prayed to the deity and dedicated a sword. The horse then continued forward.
A later tradition says that in 1560 Imagawa Yoshimoto exchanged this dedicated sword for another sword.
These stories are presented here as traditions preserved by Funatsu Shrine and are not treated as confirmed historical events.
Renovation of the Shrine Buildings in 1418
After shrine rituals had reportedly declined during periods of warfare, the priest Hayakawa Hidesada worked to restore the shrine, and the buildings are said to have undergone major renovation in 1418.
Donation by Mizuno Tadashige in 1582
The shrine's historical record states that in 1582 Mizuno Tadashige, lord of Kariya Castle in Mikawa Province, donated land to help fund renovations to the shrine buildings.
Connection with the Owari Tokugawa Family
Tokugawa Mitsutomo, the second lord of the Owari Domain, is said to have visited Funatsu Shrine in 1695. After viewing the sword preserved at the shrine, he reportedly donated his own paintings of a pine tree and quail.
Tokugawa Munechika, the ninth lord of the Owari Domain, is also said to have visited the shrine in 1786.
Construction History and the Present Shrine Buildings
Funatsu Shrine preserves several records concerning its buildings, including the founding tradition around 400, reconstruction in 939, major renovation in 1418, and a donation for renovation work in 1582.
However, in the sources I was able to confirm, I could not determine the exact construction dates of the present worship hall or main sanctuary.
For this reason, this article does not assign specific construction dates to the shrine buildings that stand today.
The 1852 Stone Purification Basin
One of the stone objects that impressed me most during this visit was the large purification basin beneath the pavilion.
The front is carved with large characters meaning “purity,” and its inscription confirms that it was made in November 1852.
The inscription also preserves the occupational title “Ishi-Daiku”, a historical Japanese term for a stone craftsman, together with the craftsman's name. This makes the basin an especially valuable record of stone craftsmanship and the terminology used for stone craftsmen in mid-19th-century Japan.
Turtle-Shaped Water Spout
Beside the purification basin is an unusual water spout made in the form of a turtle placed on a natural stone.
Unlike the dragon-shaped water spouts commonly seen at Japanese shrines, this turtle gives the purification area at Funatsu Shrine a distinctive appearance.
Smaller Shrines within Funatsu Shrine
On-site materials identify a number of smaller shrines within the grounds:
- Tsushima Shrine
- Tenmangu
- Akiba Shrine
- Sarutahiko Shrine
- Ontake Shrine
- Shinmei Shrine
- Toyouke Shrine
- Yamanokami Shrine
- Inari Shrine
The presence of these smaller shrines shows how several different forms of local religious practice have been preserved together within the grounds of Funatsu Shrine.
Shojo Metta: A Tradition Still Continued Today
Shojo Metta is a traditional folk performance held during the autumn festival of Funatsu Shrine in the Nawa area.
A large Shojo figure leads a procession accompanied by flutes and drums through the shrine grounds and neighborhood. After the performance is dedicated to the shrine, the Shojo lightly taps children with a bamboo object called a “barin.” This act is believed to drive away harmful influences and bring good fortune and virtue.
This tradition has been passed down continuously to the present day, showing that Funatsu Shrine remains part of the living religious and community life of Nawa.
History Timeline of Funatsu Shrine
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| Around 400 | According to shrine tradition, a shrine building was established and the shrine became known as Funatsu Daimyojin, serving as a guardian shrine for the local Nawa communities. |
| 939 | The shrine buildings are said to have been reconstructed, and four types of rice fields were granted to support the shrine. Fujiwara no Tadafumi is also said to have visited while traveling east. |
| 1159 | According to shrine tradition, Minamoto no Yoshitomo's retainer Shibuya Konnomaru prayed at Funatsu Shrine and dedicated a sword. |
| 1418 | Priest Hayakawa Hidesada is said to have worked to revive the shrine and renovate its buildings. |
| 1560 | A later tradition connects Imagawa Yoshimoto with the sword previously dedicated at Funatsu Shrine. |
| 1582 | Mizuno Tadashige, lord of Kariya Castle, is said to have donated land to help fund renovations to the shrine buildings. |
| 1695 | Tokugawa Mitsutomo, the second lord of the Owari Domain, is said to have visited Funatsu Shrine. |
| 1786 | Tokugawa Munechika, the ninth lord of the Owari Domain, is said to have visited the shrine. |
| 1852 | The large stone purification basin still preserved at the shrine was made. A stone lantern bearing an 1852 inscription also remains within the grounds. |
| 1860 | A Shinzen-type stone lantern was dedicated. |
| 1922 | The pair of stone komainu standing in front of the shrine building was dedicated. |
| 1988 | Records on the stonework show that the Shinzen-type stone lantern dedicated in 1860 was restored. |
| Present | Shojo Metta continues to be performed during the autumn festival of Funatsu Shrine and remains a living tradition of the Nawa community. |
Deities of Funatsu Shrine
| Deity | About the Deity |
|---|---|
| Takemikazuchi-no-Okami | The main deity of Funatsu Shrine. In Japanese mythology, Takemikazuchi is strongly associated with martial strength and courage. |
| Shiotsuchi-no-Oji-no-Okami | The other main deity of Funatsu Shrine. He is associated with the sea, navigation, and guidance. |
Final Thoughts
Funatsu Shrine preserves traditions connected with Yamato Takeru, Fujiwara no Tadafumi, Minamoto no Yoshitomo, Mizuno Tadashige, and the Owari Tokugawa family.
The nearby Donomae Shell Midden also shows that this area was once much closer to the sea. Within the shrine grounds, stone objects with identifiable dates remain, including the 1852 purification basin and stone lantern, the 1860 Shinzen-type stone lantern, and the 1922 komainu.
The 1860 stone lantern was repaired in 1988, while Shojo Metta continues to be performed today. Funatsu Shrine is therefore a place where ancient traditions, the changing landscape, generations of stone craftsmanship, and a living local festival can all be recorded together.
Japanese Garden Stone Lanterns for Sale from Japan
Japanese Stone Animal Statues for Sale — Komainu & Inari Fox Sculptures from Japan
Japanese Stone Tableware, Vases & Chozubachi for Sale — Handmade Stone Creations from Japan
Recorded on August 27, 2026
Written on August 29, 2026