Katori Jingu

History and Divine Virtue

The ichinomiya of old Shimosa Province and head shrine of the roughly 400 Katori shrines across Japan. Its deity is Futsunushi no Okami, the warrior god who, in the myth of the transfer of the land, descended to Izumo alongside Takemikazuchi and pacified the country. From ancient times he was revered by the imperial court as a guardian of the nation, honored also by the Fujiwara clan and the warrior houses. Together with Kashima Jingu and Ikisu Shrine it forms the Three Shrines of the East (Togoku Sanja), and in the Edo period the three-shrine pilgrimage flourished, called "the purification pilgrimage for the journey to Ise." Revered as a deity of victory, safe travel, and decisiveness, the shrine draws many who come before life's decisive moments and great decisions. Deep in the grounds lies the kaname-ishi, a sacred stone said to pin down the giant catfish that stirs earthquakes underground, forming a pair with the kaname-ishi of Kashima Jingu. The approach lined with ancient cedars and the black-lacquered main sanctuary and tower gate, built in the Genroku era, carry a dignity worthy of the name Jingu.

Visiting Notes

• The main sanctuary and tower gate, built in 1700, are nationally designated Important Cultural Properties — the black-lacquered halls are a must-see.
• The inner sanctuary and the kaname-ishi stone lie a short way off the main approach; allow time to walk out to them.
• The shrine makes a natural starting or finishing point for the pilgrimage to the Three Shrines of the East — Kashima, Katori, and Ikisu.

Deities and Location

Enshrined Deities

Futsunushi no Ōkami

Location

千葉県香取市香取 (Chiba)

Access

About 10 minutes by bus or taxi from Sawara Station (JR Narita Line)

Lineage

Career & Victory, Moto-Ise & Mythology

Visiting hours, goshuin (shrine stamps), and festival dates change; please confirm the latest information through each shrine's official announcements. If you find an error in this entry, we would be grateful if you let us know.