⛩️ Oarai Isosaki Shrine

On the hill of Oarai Cape facing the Pacific Ocean, there is a shrine revered as the god of medicine and good relationships. According to legend, in the year 856, the deities Ōkuninushi no Mikoto (大己貴命) and Sukuna Hikona no Mikoto (少彦名命) descended, leading to the construction of Oarai Isosaki Shrine, which enshrines them. Not far from the shrine, on the coast, lies a sacred rock known as "Kamiiso," where it is said that the deities Ōkuninushi no Mikoto and Sukuna Hikona no Mikoto descended. A torii gate stands on the reef. Kamiiso is considered a "forbidden area," and entry is prohibited. Visitors wishing to worship or take photos should do so from the nearby embankment or observation deck. At sunrise, one can capture the view of the torii gate framed by the rising sun, especially popular during the winter solstice, when many photography enthusiasts arrive early in the morning. The shrine was temporarily abandoned due to wartime conflicts but was restored in the Edo period under the orders of Mito Domain lord Tokugawa Mitsukuni, completing the restoration in the 15th year of the Kyōhō era (1730). The shrine features a rare thatched-roof main hall, a worship hall adorned with intricate carvings, and the sacred gate, preserving the shrine architectural techniques of the early Edo period. Attached to the grounds is the "Oarai Marine Museum," which displays information related to Oarai's fishing and seafood industries.

A shrine dedicated to Ōkuninushi no Mikoto (大己貴命) as the main deity. The torii gate built on the coastal reef where Ōkuninushi no Mikoto descended is famous far and wide. The rocks of the "Kamiiso Torii" are a sacred area, and entry is prohibited. The main hall, worship hall, and the Suigami gate were ordered to be constructed by Tokugawa Mitsukuni, the lord of the Mito domain. Inside the precincts, there is also the "Oarai Ocean Museum."