Miyazaki Shrine

Main Shinto sanctuary in Miyazaki Prefecture, enshrining Emperor Jimmu, the mythical first emperor, said to have ruled the surrounding area before heading east to found a capital in present-day Nara. The current buildings were constructed in 1907 and designed by architect Ito Chuta, who also designed Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. Built in Japanese cedar with a shinmei-zukuri style, the rooflines have distinctive protruding ornaments. The 25-hectare grounds hold several additional shrines, a garden, and the Miyazaki Prefectural Museum of Nature and History, making it worth more than a quick pass through the gate.