Located in Kagoshima Prefecture near the slopes of Mt. Takachiho-no-mine, Kirishima Jingu is one of the holiest shrines in Japan. About 1.5 hours from Kagoshima Station and less than 30 minutes from Kagoshima Airport, a visit to Kirishima Jingu is definitely worth it.

History of Kirishima Jingu

Kirishima Jingu is dedicated to Ninigi-no-mikoto, the grandson of the sun goddess, Amaterasu. Ninigi-no-mikoto is said to have descended from heaven where Mt. Takachiho stands today. Marrying a local princess, he became mortal and set about creating Japan, establishing the current lineage of Japanese emperors. He also bought the three holy regalia with him: the sword, the mirror and the gem. As a result, the area around Kirishima Jingu is often called the “land of the gods”.

The shrine has existed in some way, shape or form since the 6th century. However, the largest of the temple complexes was built during the Muromachi Period (1333-1573). However, successive generations have been destroyed by various volcanic eruptions – the “mountains” in this area are volcanoes and some of the most active ones in Japan, such as Sakurajima, are found in Kagoshima Prefecture.

The temples were also located at the foot of Mt. Takachiho, which is why they were destroyed. The current temple was actually built away from the mountain but facing it. Construction was completed in 1715 and it has remained in the same state (naturally with renovations) ever since.

Visiting and getting there

Kirishima Jingu is free to visit, although naturally a donation would not go amiss. It is located here, to the northeast of Kirishima City and near the base of Mt. Takachiho. The easiest way is to go by car, since it is in a small village.

If you have to go by public transport, you can get a train from Kagoshima to Kirishima Jingu Station, which is 5 km away from the shrine. There is then an infrequent local bus that will take you the rest of the way. The entire journey can take about 3 hours though, so be prepared for a long trip.

One of the major features of the shrine, in addition to large vermillion torii gates, is an 800-year-old Japanese cedar (like Jomonsugi and others on Yakushima) that shows the resilience and unending nature of nature and the Japanese imperial family.

Thanks for reading! Want to do some more exploring? Have a look at the travel map:

Interested in seeing our social media? Follow us on Instagram for travel photos and Youtube for travel videos!