Aoshima Shrine 青島神社 Miyazaki, Japan

This is also of the more unique shrines we have been to and I really love the history of the shrine. The shrine was built on an island off of Miyazaki sometime before 820 AD. Until 1737 common people were not even allowed on the island because it was considered such sacred ground.

The shrine is for marriage and so many engaged and married couples visit it. It is dedicated to the dieties Hoori and Otohime. I found their story really interesting. This is from Wikipedia,

“Hoori was a hunter, and he had an argument with his brother Hoderi, a fisherman, over a fish-hook that Hoori had forced his elder brother to lend him and had lost. Hoderi claimed that Hoori should give back the fish-hook, for he refused to accept another one (due to the belief that each tool is animated and hence unique). Hoori then descended to the bottom of the sea to search, but was unable to find it. Instead, he found Otohime, the daughter of the sea god, Ryūjin. The sea god helped Hoori find Hoderi’s lost hook, and Hoori later married the sea god’s daughter Otohime.

Hoori lived with his wife in a palace under the sea for three years, but after that Hoori became home-sick and wished to return to his own country. His brother forgave him after he returned the hook, and Otohime gave birth to a son named Ugayafukiaezu. During the time when Otohime was giving birth to her child, she had Hoori swear not to attempt to see her real figure. But he broke his promise and discovered her true form was a dragon. She was ashamed and returned to her father, never to return. Ugayafukiaezu married Otohime’s sister, who brought him up, and she gave birth to Emperor Jimmu, who is known as the first Emperor of Japan. Hoori reigned in Takachiho, Hyuga Province for 560 years.”