20 Shrines in Aomori worth your time

Visit this historic shrine to see National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties.

What it is

• A Shinto shrine in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture.
• Dedicated to the deity Hachiman-Okami.
• Originated in 1166, relocated to current site in 1222.

What to see

• Five shrine buildings are Important Cultural Properties.
• Treasure hall exhibits National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties.
• Main hall is Sanmaisha-nagare-zukuri style with copper roof.
• Red-threaded armor is a National Treasure from Kamakura period.
• White-threaded armor is a National Treasure from Nanboku-cho period.
• Former Hachinohe Elementary School auditorium is a cultural property.

When to go

• Autumn grand festival is three days, 14th to 16th lunar calendar.
• Yabusame (horseback archery) rituals are dedicated during festival.

Address

青森県八戸市八幡字八幡丁3-2 Map

Official site

www.kushihikihachimangu.com

Read more about Kushihiki Hachimangū

Historic shrine founded in 1678, known for its important cultural festivals and treasured buildings.

What it is

• Shrine founded in 1678 by the second lord of Hachinohe domain.
• Dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto and Minamoto no Yoshimitsu.
• Known for the Hachinohe Sansha Taisai festival.
• Also known for the Hachinohe Enburi festival.

What to see

• Main hall and worship hall completed in 1827.
• Main hall and worship hall are Aomori Prefectural Treasures.

When to go

• Hachinohe Sansha Taisai is a National Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
• Hachinohe Enburi is a National Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
• Kagami-ryu Kiba Dakyu is a Prefectural Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

Address

青森県八戸市長者1-6-10 Map

Official site

www.at-ml.jp

Read more about Chōjasan Shinra Shrine

Takayama Inari Shrine: a unique shrine with a thousand torii gates, dedicated to harvests and safety.

What it is

• Dedicated to bountiful harvests, maritime safety, and business prosperity.
• Founded between the Kamakura and Muromachi periods.
• Enshrines Ukanomitama-no-mikoto, Satahiko-no-mikoto, and Omiyanome-no-mikoto.
• A memorial for victims of the 1889 Chessborough shipwreck.

What to see

• A large torii gate marks the entrance.
• A hall for worship.
• A path lined with a thousand torii gates.
• Located on land about 22 meters above sea level.
• Near Shichiri Nagahama.

Getting there

• A 30-minute drive from Goshogawara Station.

Address

青森県つがる市牛潟町鷲野沢147-1 Map

Official site

takayamainari.jp

Read more about Takayama Inari Shrine

Koda-hachimangū is a historic shrine dedicated to Emperor Ōjin, founded in the mid-11th century.

What it is

• A shrine in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture.
• Dedicated to Emperor Ōjin (Hachiman-shin).
• Established in the mid-11th century by Minamoto no Yoriyoshi.
• Became a village shrine on April 15, 1873.

What to see

• Niōmon gate is a city designated cultural property.
• Bishamonten statue is a city designated cultural property.
• Two transoms are city designated historical materials.
• Senpūan Hyakuhyaku Hyō Haikai Kengaku is a historical material.

Getting there

• 10-minute drive from Hon-Hachinohe Station.

Address

青森県八戸市小田1-2-1 Map

Read more about Koda-hachimangū

An ancient Aomori City shrine dedicated to three goddesses, rebuilt by a famous general and protected by local clans.

What it is

• This ancient shrine in Aomori City is dedicated to the three Munakata Sanjojin goddesses.
• A small structure was first built here by Yasakata during ancient times.
• General Sakanoue Tamuramaro rebuilt the site during the Daidō era in the early ninth century.
• Local Nanbu and Tsugaru clans protected and revered the site for hundreds of years.

What to see

• The grounds enshrine several deities including Inari Okami and Sarutahiko Okami.
• Small merged shrines for Inari and Kaizumi are located within the grounds.

Address

青森県青森市安方2-7-18 Map

Official site

utojinja.sakura.ne.jp

Read more about Utō Shrine

Iwakiyama Shrine is a historic shrine at Mt. Iwaki's base, worth visiting for its ancient buildings.

What it is

• Shrine at the southeastern base of Mount Iwaki.
• Also known as "O-Iwaki-sama" and "Oku-Nikko."
• Founded in 780 AD, according to the oldest theory.
• Enshrines five deities as "Iwakiyama Okami."

What to see

• Shrine buildings show Shinbutsu-shūgō remnants.
• Main hall built in 1694 by Nobumasa.
• Romon gate built in 1628 by Nobuhira Tsugaru.
• Several structures are Important Cultural Properties.

Getting there

• Accessible by bus from Hirosaki Station.

Address

青森県弘前市百沢字寺沢27 Map

Official site

iwakiyamajinja.or.jp

Read more about Iwakiyama Shrine

Historic shrine dedicated to a local lord, with many important cultural properties.

What it is

• Began as the mausoleum of Tsugaru Nobumasa, 4th lord of Hirosaki.
• Nobumasa is enshrined as a deity.
• Origin dates back to 1710.
• Renamed Takateru Shrine in the early Meiji period.

What to see

• Eight shrine buildings are Important Cultural Properties.
• Two tombs are Important Cultural Properties.
• Main hall, gate, and mausoleum align on an east-west axis.
• Avenue of pine trees is a Prefectural Natural Monument.
• Two swords are Important Cultural Properties.

Address

青森県弘前市大字高岡字神馬野87 Map

Read more about Takateru Shrine

Hachinohe's oldest shrine, founded 1000 years ago, is the origin of a UNESCO festival.

What it is

• Oldest shrine in Hachinohe City, founded about 1000 years ago.
• Known as Horyozan Ogami Shrine.
• Guardian deity of Hachinohe Castle during the Edo period.
• Origin shrine of the Hachinohe Sansha Taisai festival.

What to see

• Main hall donated by the Nanbu family 190 years ago.
• Hand mirror said to be used by Minamoto no Yoshitsune's wife.

When to go

• Hachinohe Sansha Taisai festival, a UNESCO heritage event.

Address

青森県八戸市内丸2丁目1-51 Map

Read more about Ogami Shrine

Saruka Shrine, founded in 807, offers historical buildings and cultural performances.

What it is

• Founded in 807 as Jinsha-gu Shrine.
• Dedicated to Kaminokeno-kimi Taji-no-mikoto.
• Became a Beppyo Jinja after World War II.

What to see

• Main hall, rebuilt in 1826.
• Main hall is a Prefectural Treasure.
• Two large ponds: Kagami-ga-ike and Misharashi-ga-ike.

When to go

• Nanokado Taisai festival is a National Cultural Property.
• Tsugaru Kagura performed at Jugoya Taisai festival.

Address

青森県平川市猿賀字石林175 Map

Read more about Saruka Shrine

Kabushima Shrine is a unique site to see thousands of black-tailed gulls nesting.

What it is

• Shrine founded in 1269 on Kabushima island.
• Dedicated to the Munakata Sanjojin deities.
• Island is a national natural monument.
• A breeding ground for black-tailed gulls.

What to see

• The reconstructed shrine building, completed in 2020.
• Thousands of black-tailed gulls nesting on the island.

Getting there

• 15-minute walk from Same Station on the JR Hachinohe Line.

Address

青森県八戸市鮫町字鮫56−2 Map

Read more about Kabushima Shrine

Kuroishi Shrine honors the founder of Kuroishi Domain, with an Edo period gate and cultural property.

What it is

• Shrine founded in 1879.
• Dedicated to Tsugaru Nobuhide, founder of Kuroishi Domain.
• Formerly a Prefectural Shrine.

What to see

• Shrine gate, relocated from Kuroishi Jinya.
• Gate is the only remaining Edo period building.
• Mausoleum for Tsugaru Nobuhide, built in 1662.
• Subsidiary Toshogu Shrine, enshrining Tokugawa Ieyasu.
• A Prefectural Important Cultural Property.

Address

青森県黒石市市ノ町20 Map

Read more about Kuroishi Shrine

Hirota Shrine, founded for peace, enshrines Aomori's guardian deities and offers a glimpse into local history.

What it is

• Founded by Fujiwara Sanekata for peace in Mutsu Province.
• Moved to Aomori town center in 1625 by Tsugaru Nobumaki.
• Enshrines Amaterasu Omikami Aramitama as the main deity.
• Also enshrines Fujiwara Sanekata and Shindo Masatsugu.

What to see

• The current shrine building, rebuilt in 1972.
• The main hall and worship hall.
• A torii gate on the shrine grounds.

Address

青森県青森市長島2-13-5 Map

Read more about Hirota Shrine

A historic shrine in Hirosaki with a magnificent, ancient weeping cherry tree.

What it is

• A shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane no Ason no Mikoto.
• Founded in 1689 by Tsugaru Nobumasa's mother.
• Formerly a village shrine, it replaced Daigyoin Temple.

What to see

• The Daigyoin no Shidarezakura, a weeping cherry tree.
• The tree is 11 meters tall with a 2.6-meter trunk circumference.
• This weeping cherry tree is a designated natural monument.

Address

青森県弘前市西茂森1丁目1-34 Map

Read more about Hirosaki-tenmangū

Miyagi Shrine honors clan founders on a former castle site, offering a glimpse into local history.

What it is

• Shrine dedicated to clan founders.
• Honors Nambu Naofusa, Minamoto no Yoshimitsu, and Nambu Mitsuyuki.
• Established in 1878.
• Built on the former site of Hachinohe Castle.

What to see

• Site of Hachinohe Castle's main and second keeps.
• Lanterns and offerings donated by former retainers.

When to go

• Main festival day is August 6.

Address

青森県八戸市内丸1-1-69 Map

Read more about Miyagi Shrine

Visit this historic shrine to see a beautiful 17th-century main hall, a National Important Cultural Property.

What it is

• A Shinto shrine in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture.
• Founded in 1617 by Tsugaru Nobuhira.
• Relocated to its current site in 1624.
• Designated a prefectural shrine in 1881.

What to see

• The main hall, constructed in 1628.
• Main hall is a wooden structure with a hipped-gable roof.
• Main hall is a National Important Cultural Property.

Address

青森県弘前市笹森町38 Map

Read more about Hirosaki Tōshō-gū

Hirosaki Hachimangu is a historic Shinto shrine protecting Hirosaki Castle's demon gate.

What it is

• Shinto shrine in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture.
• Dedicated to Emperor Ojin, Empress Jingu, and Tamayorihime no Mikoto.
• Relocated in 1612 by Tsugaru Nobuhira.
• Protects the demon gate of Hirosaki Castle.

What to see

• Karamon Gate is a National Important Cultural Property.
• Honden (main hall) is a National Important Cultural Property.

Address

〒036-8057　青森県弘前市大字八幡町1丁目1-1 Map

Official site

hirosaki-hachimangu.com

Read more about Hirosaki Hachimangū

Towada Shrine is a famous northern Tohoku shrine with two historical founding accounts worth visiting.

What it is

• Famous shrine in northern Tohoku region.
• Founded in 807 by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro.
• Dedicated to Yamato Takeru no Mikoto, son of Emperor Keiko.
• Once fused Shinto and Buddhism.

What to see

• Shrine dedicated to Yamato Takeru no Mikoto.
• Small shrine on grounds with Nansonobo's remains.

Address

青森県十和田市奥瀬十和田湖畔休屋486 Map

Read more about Towada Shrine

A solemn shrine in Hirosaki Park, dedicated to Aomori's war dead since 1869.

What it is

• A shrine dedicated to 29,184 war dead from Aomori Prefecture.
• Founded on June 6, 1869.
• Designated a Gokoku Shrine in 1939.

What to see

• The Shokon-do hall, built in 1870.
• The Shokonsha shrine, established in 1871.

Getting there

• Located within Hirosaki Park.

Official site

aomorigokoku-housankai.com

Read more about Aomori Gokoku Shrine

Ōma Inari Shrine: a unique shrine in Tohoku, dedicated to Inari and the sea goddess Mazu.

What it is

• A shrine in Ōma Town, Aomori Prefecture.
• Dedicated to Inari Okami and Mazu.
• Mazu was enshrined in 1697 for protection at sea.
• Inari god was first enshrined in 1730.

What to see

• Rare enshrinement of Mazu in the Tohoku region.
• Deities include Konpira Daigongen and Benzaiten.

Address

青森県下北郡大間町大字大間字大間91 Map

Read more about Ōma Inari Shrine

Hachimangu is a historic shrine dedicated to Hondawake no Mikoto, offering a glimpse into local spiritual heritage.

What it is

• A shrine in Goshogawara City, also called Motomachi Hachimangu.
• Dedicated to the deity Hondawake no Mikoto.
• Founded in 1661.
• Relocated in 1926 due to river renovation.

Getting there

• Accessible from Goshogawara Station.

Address

青森県五所川原市字元町30番地 Map

Read more about Hachimangū