Mishima Taisha

History and Divine Virtue

Mishima Taisha has long stood as the ichinomiya (first shrine) of Izu Province in the town of Mishima, a key post on the old Tokaido road. Its two deities, Oyamatsumi-no-Mikoto and Tsumihayae-Kotoshironushi-no-Kami, are venerated together as Mishima Daimyojin. Because Oyamatsumi governs mountains and forestry while Kotoshironushi is beloved as Ebisu, the god of good fortune in trade, the shrine has gathered the faith of merchants and craftsmen as a guardian of prosperous business and flourishing households. It is also famed as the shrine where Minamoto no Yoritomo, then an exile in Izu, prayed for the revival of the Minamoto clan and worshipped devoutly when he raised his banner — earning it the lasting reverence of the warrior class. The main sanctuary, built entirely of zelkova, is an Important Cultural Property. In the grounds stands a giant fragrant olive (kinmokusei) said to be over 1,200 years old and designated a Natural Monument, which blooms twice from September into October, wrapping the precincts in sweet perfume. Woven into the streets and waterways of Mishima, it is one of the great old shrines of the Tokai region.

Visiting Notes

• The giant fragrant olive, a national Natural Monument, is essential viewing; in autumn its scent fills the entire precinct.
• A stone said to have seated Minamoto no Yoritomo and Hojo Masako remains beside the approach.
• Fukutaro-mochi, the confection of the shrine's gate town — mugwort rice cake topped with smooth red-bean paste — is cherished as a sweet of good omen.

Deities and Location

Enshrined Deities

Ōyamatsumi-no-Mikoto, Tsumihayae-Kotoshironushi-no-Kami

Location

静岡県三島市大宮町 (Shizuoka)

Access

About 15 minutes on foot from JR Mishima Station

Lineage

Career & Victory

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.