Makata Shrine

Overview

Makata Shrine stands in Daikata, Narita, Chiba Prefecture. It is a Shikinaisha, a shrine listed in the Engishiki register of the Heian period, and formerly held the rank of gōsha (district shrine). It has long been revered as the head shrine of the “Eighteen Makata Shrines,” a group of eighteen shrines scattered across the Inba district around Lake Inba. Counted among the “100 Treasures of Chiba,” it is an ancient shrine symbolising the region's history and faith.

Highlights

• ●The ancient standing of a Shikinaisha named in the Engishiki
• ●The dignity of a head shrine uniting the Eighteen Makata Shrines of the Inba area
• ●Historical value recognised among the 100 Treasures of Chiba
• ●Grounds that convey the history of Shimōsa Province and the Inba district

History

Makata Shrine sits in what was the Inba district of former Shimōsa Province, and is ranked among the Shikinaisha, shrines recognised by the imperial court under the ancient system of official shrines. Formerly a gōsha, it has been regarded as the head shrine gathering together the eighteen Makata shrines dotted across the Inba area. Bound over long centuries to the lives of local people, its historical value has earned it a place among the “100 Treasures of Chiba.”

Map

35.7708, 140.2764 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Set out from the Narita Station area toward Daikata
2. 2Arrive at Makata Shrine and pray at the main hall of the head shrine
3. 3Walk unhurried through the solemn grounds fitting a Shikinaisha
4. 4Enjoy the scenery around Lake Inba and the town of Narita before heading home

Did you know?

💡 Eighteen shrines bearing the name “Makata” stand across the Inba area, and this shrine in Daikata, Narita, is regarded as their head. Its distinctive appeal lies in combining the ancient dignity of a Shikinaisha with a broad, community-rooted faith.

Nearby spots