Oarai Isosaki Jinja

Oarai Isosaki Shrine was founded in 856 AD during the Heian period, when the deity Onamuchi-no-mikoto (another name for Okuninushi, the deity of nation-building) is said to have appeared on the rocky shore. The shrine has been the spiritual guardian of the Oarai coastline for over 1,100 years, with its history deeply connected to the Pacific Ocean and the livelihoods of local fishing communities.

The shrine was destroyed during the battles of the Sengoku period but was rebuilt by the Mito Tokugawa clan in the Edo period. The Tokugawa lords of Mito, known for their scholarly Confucian approach to governance, maintained the shrine as an important spiritual center of the Hitachi region.

The shrine's most iconic and photographed feature is the Kamiiso no Torii, a small torii gate perched dramatically on a rocky outcrop in the Pacific Ocean. At sunrise, the silhouette of this torii against the rising sun over the ocean creates one of the most breathtaking and spiritual images in all of Japan. This scene has become a symbol of the shrine and of coastal Japan's sacred beauty.

The main shrine on the hilltop features beautiful carvings and a commanding position overlooking the ocean. The approach is lined with stone lanterns and cherry trees that bloom spectacularly in spring.

The New Year sunrise (hatsuhinode) at the Kamiiso no Torii draws thousands of visitors who come to witness the first sunrise of the year framing the ocean torii gate. The August Sea Festival celebrates the shrine's maritime heritage with traditional fishing demonstrations and blessings for safe voyages. The shrine also hosts seasonal events celebrating the abundant seafood of the Oarai coast.