Publisher: Sansai Books Publication date: July 2014 Author: Shiho
May 20, 2026
Notice regarding visits to Motonosumi Shrine 2026
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Motonosumi Shrine
Spectacular shrine with 123 red torii gates lined up facing the sea
Motonosumi Inari Shrine (Motonosumi Jinja) was built in 1955 following a revelation from a white fox that appeared at the bedside of Hitoshi Okamura, a local fishing boss.
The sight of 123 torii gates, dedicated over 10 years starting in 1987, lined up for more than 100 m is truly breathtaking! It’s a popular spot and one of Yamaguchi Prefecture’s most spectacular viewpoints.
The shrine is said to bring blessings for prosperous business, big catches and safety at sea, as well as good relationships, fertility, good fortune and warding off misfortune, happiness and prosperity, traffic safety, academic success, and more.
*This shrine is not affiliated with Taikodani Inari Shrine in Tsuwano Town, Kanoashi District, Shimane Prefecture.
*Photo: Koichi (@Kfish1882)
Natural Wonders
Shrines & Temples
Photo Spots
Official Social Media:
Basic Information
| Address | 498, Aburayatsukou, Nagato, Yamaguchi 759-4712, Japan |
|---|---|
| Access | Recommended car navigation setting to the shrine: TEL：0837-32-2003 / Restaurant "Shiokaze ■Private Vehicles Approximately 60 minutes from the Mine IC of the Chugoku Expressway ■Taxi ・20 min. from "Nagato Furuichi" station on JR Sanin line ・20 min. from "Hitomaru" station on JR Sanin line ・40 min. from "Nagatoichi" station on JR Sanin line From Nagato City Station】 Nearest station: Nagato Furuichi Station Furuichi Taxi/Tel: 0837-37-3194 (There is a sales office in front of Nagato Furuichi Station) (about 3,000 yen one way/about 20 minutes) (only an estimate, depending on traffic conditions) From Shimonoseki Station】 Nearest station: Hitomaru Station Hitomaru Taxi/Tel: 0837-32-1126 (There is an office in front of Hitomaru Station) (One way: about 3,000 yen/about 20 minutes) (It depends on traffic conditions and is just a guide) |
| Parking | ■Passenger cars Parking lot 1: 92 (right in front of the shrine) Parking lot 2: 24 (about 200m to the shrine) *Parking lot 2 is open when parking lot 1 is crowded *A corner of the bus parking lot can be used as "handicapped parking" ■Buses (no reservation) In front of the shrine: 6 ■Motorcycles Parking lot 1: 20 |
| Parking Fees | ■Passenger cars 300 yen per hour (100 yen for each hour over 1 hour up to 500 yen) ■Buses 1,500 yen per trip ■Motorcycles 100 yen per trip |
| Restrooms | Yes * Inside the Tatsumiya no Ushobuki Exchange Facility (store near Parking Lot 1) * Near the "Tatsumiya no Ushobuki" observation deck |
| Official Social Media Account |
Admission/Entry
| Opening Hours | 9:30 AM–4:30 PM ※Please exit the shrine grounds by 4:30 PM ※Entry and photography at night are prohibited [Notice] ●From March to November 2026, worship will be suspended on certain days. Please refer to "Visiting Motonosumi Shrine from December 2025 Onward" below for details. |
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Contact
- Nagato City Tourist Information Center YUKUTE (TEL: 0837-26-0708)
This tourist information center is located in the Senzaki area. For GPS navigation, please enter the phone number for Shiokaze: 0837-32-2003.
Map
Image Gallery
■Photography: Koichi (@Kfish1882)_Photographed in May 2023 / Cooperation: NICO STOP)
Photo by Koichi(@Kfish1882)/Model by Ruka(@rk19_photo)_May 2024
Notes
▪ Access by public bus or train is difficult. Please come by private car, rental car, or cab. There is no bus service from the nearest train station.
To all travel agencies and bus operators planning bus tours:
– Please be sure to use one-way traffic near Motonosumi Shrine, as it is difficult for buses to separate from each other on the approach to the shrine.
▪ About nighttime filming and drone filming
▪ Please refrain from entering or filming at night as this is private property
▪ Please refrain from personal drone filming
Oomoto Shrine is unrelated to the “Taidokodani Inari Shrine” located in Tsuwano Town, Kanzoku-gun, Shimane Prefecture.
Visiting Motonosumi Shrine from December 2025 Onward (Updated 5/20)
[December 2025–February 2026: Regarding visits]
During this period, visits are possible even on weekends and public holidays.
[March–November 2026: Regarding visits]
The following is a partial suspension of visitation.
Saturday, Sunday, and national holidays from March to November 2026
・GW period from May 2 (Sat.) to May 10 (Sun.), 2026
・Obon period from August 8 (Sat.) to 16 (Sun.), 2026
(Updated 5/20/2026)
For May and August, worship is permitted on weekends outside the periods listed above.
| 2026 | Worship | ||
| Weekdays | Weekends/Holidays | Other Holiday Periods | |
| March | ○ | × | – |
| April | ○ | × | – |
| May | symbol used as a placeholder (either because a number of other words could be used in that position or because of censorship) |
weak ※Worship permitted on weekends excluding Golden Week period |
×x-mark (used to indicate an incorrect answer in a test, etc.) Golden Week period (Saturday, May 2–Sunday, May 10) |
| June | ○ | × | – |
| July | ○ | × | – |
| August | symbol used as a placeholder (either because a number of other words could be used in that position or because of censorship) |
weak ※Worship permitted on weekends excluding Obon period |
×x-mark (used to indicate an incorrect answer in a test, etc.) Obon period (Saturday, August 8–Sunday, August 16) |
| September | ○ | × | – |
| October | ○ | × | – |
| November | ○ | × | – |
Live camera around Motonosumi Shrine
Red seal of a white fox at Motonosumi Shrine
1. The red seal at Motonosumi Shrine is located at the top of the red torii gate, near the 6-meter-long Otorii (Grand Gate).
2. There are 10 types of red seals to choose from: “Love, Victory, Prosperity, Prosperity, Fortune, Fortune, Wealth, Ki, Success, and Takashi,” with a white fox in the middle.
3. The date of visit is to be written on the red seal by yourself with a pen provided at the awarding office. Please pay the first fee with your feelings.
*Around about 500 yen is a rough estimate.
Motonosumi Shrine" Stone of Difficulty
This is a unique spot at Motonosumi Shrine.
By going through it, your wish will come true! It is a stone tunnel called “Difficulty Passage.”
To go through the tunnel
1) Lower your right shoulder
2) Reach your right hand forward
3) Dive while turning your entire body to the left.
(A lecture on how to dive is also marked on the bottom right of the local tunnel.)
Please go through the tunnel and make your wish come true!
smoking area (corner)
The smoking area at Motonosumi Shrine is located from the store toward the parking lot and up the hill on the right.
Information Pamphlet
Click here to download the Motonosumi Shrine Guide Map.
Click or tap the △ to go to the brochure page.
Traffic jam information during GW/Obon season
The Motonosumi Shrine is prone to traffic jams waiting to enter the parking lot during consecutive holidays, especially during the GW and Obon periods.
Yamaguchi/Nagato Tourist Spots Traffic Information〔GW/Obon: Motonosumi Shrine/Senza Kitchen
Official Site
How to read Motonosumi Shrine
Motonosumi Shrine is read as “Motonosumi Jinja.
Media Coverage
Shiho “I want to go there before I die! The World’s Greatest Views – Japan” published
Shiho “I want to go there before I die! The World’s Greatest Views – Japan” published
Published in July 2014, “I want to go there before I die! The World’s Greatest Views in Japan” published in July 2014. The author, Shiho, was involved in new business development at an Internet advertising agency, and was inspired by a Facebook page she created as part of her graduate training that received over 577,000 “Likes” as of September 2013. The book was published in the same year and became a topic of conversation, ranking No. 1 on Amazon’s overall ranking and No. 1 on Oricon’s 2014 photo book ranking. In July 2014, he published his second book, “I want to go there before I die! The World’s Greatest Views of Japan” was published in July 2014, also ranking No. 1 overall on Amazon, and has become a bestseller with a total of more than 350,000 copies sold in the series.
CNN, “The 36 Most Amazing Places in Japan.”
CNN “31 Most Beautiful Places in Japan”
CNN “31 Most Beautiful Places in Japan”
CNN, an American news broadcaster, announced on its website on March 30, 2015 that “Japan’s 31 most beautiful places ? Motonosumi Shrine in Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, was selected as one of the “31 most beautiful places in Japan!
TripAdviser “Top 30 Best Temples and Shrines to Visit”
TripAdviser “Top 30 Best Temples and Shrines to Visit”
Of the Top 30 Best Temples and Shrines to Visit published by TripAdvisor in June 2016, Motonosumi Shrine ranked 11th!
Event Report
Motonosumi Shrine Light-up Souryu Ikkai – Winter (Event Report)
From December 15 (Wed.) to 19 (Sun.), 2021, shrines, local communities, and tourism businesses collaborated to light up Motonosumi Shrine, one of Nagato City’s most popular tourist attractions, in the “Motonosumi Shrine Light-up Souryu Ikkai – Winter” (organized by Big One Next).
→Please see this page for the event report.
Ryugu no Tide Blowing Exchange Facility (Motonosumi Shop)
The Tatsunomiya no Ushiofuki Exchange Facility (Motonosumi Shop) is located adjacent to Motonosumi Shrine.
Seafood and vegetables by local producers, good luck goods associated with “torii” (torii gates), and standard souvenirs of Nagato City are sold here.
Ryugu no Tide Blow Exchange Facility (Motonosumi Shop)
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