With the god of fortune on your side and a sacred tree prolonging life, the Kinomiya Shrine is a feel-good spiritual destination. Make your way around this profound shrine, admiring the various traditional elements and Japanese décor. Visit Kinomiya Shrine as evening falls, when lights illuminate the complex, creating an exceptional setting.
See the Okusu, a sacred camphor tree thought to be more than 2,000 years old. Legends say that when you walk around this tremendously thick tree, your life will be extended by a year. Watch the many worshippers performing this pilgrim-like feat, hoping to add years to their lives and heal various sicknesses and bad fortunes. As you circle around the tree, think of a wish and keep it to yourself in order for it to come true.
Spot the sculptures of various deities and mythical beings, such as dragons, placed around the shrine. During the day, enjoy the breeze in the shade of the trees and sit beside the quiet pond. Admire the torii gates, taking care to pass between the red posts. The site has its own café and souvenir shop.
See the complex at night, when lanterns hanging from the ceiling and hidden in the surrounding trees create an enchanting atmosphere.
Note that the history of the shrine can be traced back as far as 1,300 years. A fisherman is thought to have pulled a wooden statue from the sea near here, perceiving it as a sign from the spirits. Visit in mid-July when a festival takes place, including the transport of the statue on a portable shrine to nearby Sun Beach.
Find the Kinomiya Shrine via a short walk from the Kinomiya train station, a little north of the city center of Atami. From the Chuocho district in the municipal core, walk north for about 10 minutes to reach the shrine. While in the area, visit neighboring sights such as the Atami Seven Hot Springs Ooyu Geyser, Atami Water Park and Atami Sun Beach.
