美保神社
Mihonoseki, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture
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Head Shrine of the Ebisu Deity
Miho Shrine, standing where the Shimane Peninsula meets the Sea of Japan, is the head shrine of some 3,385 Ebisu shrines across Japan. It enshrines Kotoshironushi-no-kami—the cheerful fishing god known affectionately as Ebisu—alongside Mihotsuhime-no-mikoto. As the deity of maritime safety, bountiful catches, prosperous business, and music, the shrine has long drawn fishermen, merchants, and musicians. Its rare 'Miho-zukuri' main hall, joining two Taisha-style structures side by side, is an Important Cultural Property, and the shrine sits at the heart of Japan's ancient 'land-ceding' (kuni-yuzuri) myth.
History & Culture
Stage of the Land-Ceding Myth
In the myth recorded in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, the messengers of the heavenly deities came to Mihonoseki to ask Kotoshironushi to cede the land. His response here is woven into the founding story of the nation, making the shrine one of the oldest sacred sites in the Izumo region.
The 'Miho-zukuri' Main Hall
The current main hall, rebuilt in 1813, joins two large Taisha-style structures into a single 'Miho-zukuri' form found nowhere else. Together with the soaring offering hall, it was designated an Important Cultural Property for its distinctive architecture.
608 Mihonoseki, Mihonoseki-cho, Matsue City, Shimane 690-1501
- Bus from Matsue Stn, or via Sakaiminato Stn
Open at all times (shrine office in daytime)
Free
Hours and fees are a guide and may change — please check official information before your visit.
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