Sumiyoshi Shrine

Dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi deities, protectors of the sea and seafarers, born according to Japanese mythology from the purification ritual performed by the creator deity Izanagi. There are over 2,000 Sumiyoshi shrines across Japan, reflecting the importance of the sea in Japanese culture. This one is thought to have been relocated several times over the centuries. During the Meiji era, as state Shinto elevated the status of mythologically significant shrines, this site grew in popularity. By 1914, it was busy enough to justify a railway extension, and until 1929, devotees were pushed to the entrance by carts along dedicated tracks.