Shiitori-jinja Shrine

In short

Shiitori-jinja Shrine is an old shrine located in the Kamitsuki district of Miyakejima Island. In the 2000 eruption, a massive mudflow occurred, swallowing the worship hall (haiden) and torii gate. The former torii gate, buried with only its uppermost crossbeam (kasagi) showing, still remains today, bearing witness to the immense force of the mudflow at that time.

• ​Buried Torii Gate​​: Only the uppermost crossbeam of the torii gate peeks out from the ground.
• ​A Reviving Forest​​: Greenery is returning to the forest where most trees withered from volcanic gas. The forest and lava flow are a designated Natural Monument of Tokyo.
• ​One of the Shikinaisha​​: Of the 2,861 Shikinaisha shrines nationwide, 12 are located on Miyakejima Island, with Shiitori-jinja Shrine also counted among them under the name "Shiritaki-jinja Shrine."

History and Highlights

Miyakejima Island has many old shrines; of the 2,861 Shikinaisha shrines across the country, 12 are on Miyakejima Island. Shiitori-jinja Shrine is one of them, situated in the Kamitsuki district and listed in the Engishiki as "Shiritaki-jinja Shrine." The enshrined deity is Shiritaki no Mikoto. He is the prince called "Shitai" among the eight princes of Sakitamahime no Mikoto, the deity of Oshaku-jinja Shrine.

In 2000, an eruption occurred at the summit of Mt. Oyama. A massive mudflow was triggered, engulfing the worship hall and torii gate of Shiitori-jinja Shrine. A new worship hall and torii gate have been built beside them. Meanwhile, the former torii gate, buried leaving only the kasagi, has been preserved as it was. The kasagi is the horizontal beam placed at the very top of a torii gate.

Due to volcanic gas during the eruption, most of the dense forest surrounding the shrine grounds withered standing. Even so, greenery has begun to return around the withered chinquapin trees, and the forest is regenerating. The shrine's forest and lava flow are designated as a Tokyo Natural Monument under the name "Grove and Lava Flow of Shiitori-jinja Shrine on Miyakejima."

Behind the worship hall, the main sanctuary (honden) is enshrined in the shadow of a towering rock. The location of the main sanctuary was originally an inlet, but it is now covered with thick trees. Beside the shrine, various stone deities reside together.

Viewing and Experience Points

• ​View the Buried Torii Gate​​: The old torii gate, buried leaving only the kasagi, conveys the terrifying power of the mudflow of that time. Take a look at it alongside the newly built torii gate and worship hall.
• ​Nature's Threat and Regeneration​​: Shiitori-jinja Shrine is one of the symbols of the 2000 eruption. From the greenery reviving around the withered trees, you can simultaneously feel both nature's threat and its power of regeneration.
• ​Autumn Grand Festival​​: The Shiitori-jinja Shrine Grand Festival is held on October 11.

Walking Tips

It is just a short walk after getting off at the "Shiitori Jinja-mae" stop on the Miyake Village bus. Within the grounds, you can see both the old torii gate with only its kasagi visible and the new worship hall. Around late April 2026, there was a rockfall near the main sanctuary. The shrine requests that visitors refrain from worshiping directly in front of the small shrine of the main sanctuary and keep behind the posted notice on the path beyond the worship hall. As there is a risk of overhead rocks falling, please follow the signs on-site. To visit Oshaku-jinja Shrine, which enshrines Sakitamahime no Mikoto, it is just a short walk after getting off at the "Kamitsuki" bus stop.