Atsuta Jingu - Nagoya

I visited this important shrine in December 2019 and posted about it here. It was busier back then. On this more recent trip, I visited early in the morning and the shrine was pretty quiet.

From the Nagoya City website -

Atsuta Jingu Shrine, Home of the Sacred Sword

Atsuta Shrine is Japan's second most revered Shinto shrine after the Great Shrine of Ise, and dates back over 1900 years. The shrine is home to the sacred Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi sword, likened to the legendary Excalibur, it is one of the Three Imperial Regalia of Japan.

Despite having the Imperial sword, it is never displayed, however Atsuta Jingu (Jingu means shrine) does have a large and impressive collection of samurai swords on rotational display in its Treasure Hall, featuring over 6,000 relics, including Important Cultural Property and National Treasure ranked items such as sacred garments, manuscripts, masks, mirrors, furniture and its large array of swords and blades.

The atmosphere is different at Atsuta Shrine. It is a special place, a holy place. A place to find some peace, and feel the ancient culture of Japan. 

Amongst the ancient trees and smaller shrines of Atsuta Jingu, is a tall, sturdy, tile-topped wall made from traditional kawara roof tiles. This is the Nobunaga-Bei, a protective wall built around Atsuta Shrine by the warlord of Western Aichi, Oda Nobunaga, following his 10-1 victory in the Battle of Okehazama in 1560, in which he successfully defeated the 25,000 samurai of Imagawa Yoshimoto with his own army of just 2,500 men! Nobunaga had prayed for victory at Atsuta prior to entering the battle, and in gratitude, constructed the impressive "Nobunaga Wall". Unfortunately, little of the original wall remains, as much was destroyed during the air raids of WW2.

 The shrine is open 24 hours a day and free to visit.