Tsuchimochi Shrine

Overview

Tsuchimochi Shrine is located in Myocho, Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture. It is known as a shrine enshrining the ancestral spirits of the Tsuchimochi clan, which ruled the medieval Nobeoka region.

Highlights

• ●A shrine enshrining ancestral spirits of the Tsuchimochi clan
• ●Located in Myocho, Nobeoka City
• ●A history tied to a Sengoku-period legend
• ●Built to appease a reported curse

History

During the Sengoku period, Tsuchimochi Takanobu, lord of the nearby Matsuo Castle, is said to have taken his own life here after his defeat by the Otomo clan. Strange occurrences reportedly followed, and the shrine is said to have been built to appease the curse. However, it is also noted that Takanobu may not actually have died by his own hand, with the possibility that a retainer took his place.

Map

32.6324, 131.6268 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Head to the shrine in Myocho, Nobeoka City
2. 2Visit while tracing the legend of the Tsuchimochi clan
3. 3Offer a quiet prayer at the shrine grounds
4. 4Visit nearby related sites such as the Matsuo Castle ruins

Did you know?

💡 Accounts of Tsuchimochi Takanobu's final moments vary, with some suggesting a retainer may have died in his place, leaving an intriguing gap between legend and historical record.

Nearby spots