Shinto shrine
Torinokosanjō Jinja
鷲子山上神社（とりのこさんじょうじんじゃ）
Hitachiōmiya, Ibaraki Prefecture
A shrine on a mountaintop 470 m above sea level on the border between Tochigi and Ibaraki, enshrining Amenohiwashi no Mikoto, Ōnamuchi no Mikoto and Sukunahikona no Mikoto. The prefectural border runs through the middle of its grounds, and it is also known as a shrine of owls.
English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む
Prayers associated with this place
Enshrined deities: Amenohiwashi no Mikoto, Ōnamuchi no Mikoto, Sukunahikona no Mikoto
History and things to know
According to the shrine's history, in Daidō 2 (807) the priest 大蔵坊宝珠 brought Amenohiwashi no Mikoto from Awa Province together with the technique of papermaking and built a shrine, and later Ōnamuchi no Mikoto and Sukunahikona no Mikoto were also enshrined. It was rebuilt at its present site in Tenbun 21 (1552), and the main hall, rebuilt in Tenmei 8 (1788), is a cultural property of both prefectures.
Introduced by this site, based on materials from the shrine or temple and public bodies.
Related kami and buddhas
Before you visit
It is a single shrine building, but as religious corporations it is divided into two shrines, one on the Tochigi side and one on the Ibaraki side, and the name is read “Torinokosanjō” in Ibaraki and “Torinokosanshō” in Tochigi. The shrine office's address is Yamata, Nakagawa-machi, Tochigi Prefecture, but the entrance for cars is on the Ibaraki side (Torinoko). Worship is possible from sunrise to sunset.
Official website of the shrine or temple (may be in Japanese)
Sources (in Japanese)
- 鷲子山上神社「御祭神・御本尊・由緒の公式案内」（2026-10-22 確認）
This site is independent of the shrines, temples, and other websites mentioned. No partnership or endorsement is implied.