Yata ni Imasu Kushitamahiko Shrine

Overview

Yata ni Imasu Kushitamahiko Shrine is an ancient shrine in the Yata district of Yamatokoriyama City, Nara Prefecture. Listed in the Engishiki records as a shikinaisha of high rank, it once held the status of a prefectural shrine. Also known as Yaochi Shrine or Yaochi Myojin, it preserves a locally rooted faith to this day, its dignified halls resting quietly amid a peaceful sacred grove.

Highlights

• ●Kasuga-zukuri halls designated an Important Cultural Property
• ●Status as a high-ranking shrine in the Engishiki records
• ●The legend behind its alternate name, Yaochi Myojin
• ●A quiet sacred grove at the foot of the Yata Hills

History

This venerable shrine appears in the Engishiki register of official shrines and historically belonged to Soejimo district in Yamato Province. Its halls are built in the Kasuga-zukuri style, and part of the structure is designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan. The alternate name Yaochi Myojin is said to derive from an old local legend involving an arrow, and the shrine has drawn reverence throughout its long history.

Map

34.6518, 135.7481 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Pass through the torii and sense the calm of the approach
2. 2View the Kasuga-zukuri halls up close
3. 3Take in the beauty of the Important Cultural Property
4. 4Extend your walk into the nearby Yata Hills

Did you know?

💡 Because of its alternate name Yaochi, meaning “fallen arrow,” the shrine is sometimes associated with arrows and, by extension, the sky, and has long been cherished by local people.

Nearby spots