⛩️ Hinomisaki Shrine

The Hinomisaki Shrine is located on the cape of Hinomisaki at the westernmost tip of the Shimane Peninsula. It is recorded in the "Izumo no Kuni Fudoki" as "Misaki Shrine" and is a shrine formed by the merging of two main shrines. Upon entering the gate, the main shrine "Hizume-no-Miya" is directly in front, while the small elevated area on the right is the upper main shrine "Kami-no-Miya." It is said to correspond with the Ise Jingu, which protects the daylight, making it a shrine that guards the night in Japan. Behind the granite torii gate is a vermilion gate and a shrine built in the "Gongen-zukuri" architectural style. The current shrine was commissioned by Tokugawa Iemitsu and constructed by craftsmen directly dispatched by the shogunate. To this day, it perfectly preserves the vermilion shrine, exquisite carvings, and the breathtaking murals painted by artists from the Kano and Tosa schools. As a precious shrine building, 14 structures, including the main shrine, have been designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan. From the Hinomisaki Street leading from Inasa no Hama to the Hinomisaki Lighthouse, the vermilion shrine shines brilliantly against the backdrop of the blue Japan Sea and the lush green pine forests, resembling the underwater Dragon Palace, earning it the nickname "Dragon Palace Castle." Not far from the shrine is Kyoujima, famous for being a breeding ground for black-tailed gulls, which come here to winter every year.

The shrine that protects Japan's night. The bright red temple, carvings, and murals are breathtaking. The view from the Hinomisaki Street is quite beautiful.