Oyamazumi Shrine

The site is replete with stories. As a place of worship for Oyamazumi no Okami—the god of mountain, sea and warfare, as well as the brother of the sun goddess Amaterasu—samurai, have embarked on pilgrimages to Omishima since the 500s to pray for military success. As a show of thanks they sheathed their weapons. Nowadays the main hall, the worship hall and the treasure hall contain many important artifacts, including swords taller than the most people and a breastplate that belonged to Tsuruhime, a female warrior who in the 16th century defended the island from an invading clan—several times. Other National Treasures, still scarred from centuries-old conflict, are up for display. Outside next to the gate is a small rice paddy whose yield is used for the Otaue Matsuri, or the Rice Planting Festival, in early June. This festival in particular involves a local man challenging a rice spirit in three rounds of sumo wrestling (and loses, of course).

Although the shrine itself is free to enter, you can pay ¥1,000 to explore the treasure hall and other museums. The Omishima Maritime Museum contains a boat and several marine specimens once claimed by Emperor Hirohito during his activities as a marine biologist. Thankfully, with the construction of the Shimanami Expressway Oyamazumi is not as remote as it used to be, but a reverential atmosphere certainly remains.