Nonomiya-jinja Shrine

In short

A shrine in Sagano that enshrines Amaterasu Omikami as Nonomiya Okami. Nonomiya was the place where the saio, who served at Ise Jingu Shrine on behalf of the emperor, purified herself before heading to Ise. It is depicted in the "Sakaki" (The Sacred Tree) chapter of The Tale of Genji and is also known through the Noh play Nonomiya. Today, the shrine attracts worshippers from all across the country as a deity of matchmaking, fertility, and safe childbirth.

• ​Kuroki Torii Gate and Koshibagaki Fence​​: The Kuroki Torii, the oldest style of torii gate, made from unbarked logs, and the koshibagaki, a low brushwood fence, convey the atmosphere of the Heian period to this day
• ​Nonomiya Daikokuten and the Okame-ishi Stone​​: Nonomiya Daikokuten, an auxiliary shrine within the grounds, is a deity of good matches and marriage. It is said that if you make a wish while rubbing the sacred Okame-ishi Stone beside it, your wish will be fulfilled within one year
• ​Saio Procession​​: The journey of the saio from the capital to Ise was called the Saio Gunko, and it is said that the retinue numbered several hundred people and that the journey took 6 days and 5 nights to reach Ise. The "Saio Procession," which reenacts this journey, is held in Arashiyama

History and Highlights

​Nonomiya-jinja Shrine​ is a shrine located in Sagano that enshrines Amaterasu Omikami as Nonomiya Okami. Nonomiya was the place where the saio (an imperial princess serving at Ise Jingu Shrine on behalf of the emperor) purified herself before heading to Ise. With each change of emperor, an unmarried imperial princess or a princess of the imperial line was chosen as saio and sent to Ise Jingu Shrine. It is handed down that 64 princesses were dispatched over a period of approximately 660 years until around the time of Emperor Godaigo.

The location of Nonomiya was determined each time a new emperor ascended the throne, and it is said that this site was first used by the daughter of Emperor Saga in the early Heian period. Even after the saio system ended due to the wars of the Nanboku-cho period, it continued as a shrine and received deep reverence from the imperial family.

In the "Sakaki" (The Sacred Tree) chapter of The Tale of Genji, there is a scene where Hikaru Genji visits Lady Rokujo, who is staying at Nonomiya in Sagano to accompany her daughter, the imperial princess serving as the high priestess. It is also known through the Noh play Nonomiya, and today the shrine attracts worshippers from all across the country as a deity of matchmaking, fertility, and safe childbirth.

Viewing and Experiencing Highlights

• ​Kuroki Torii Gate and Koshibagaki Fence​​: The Kuroki Torii is the oldest style of torii gate, made from unbarked logs. Together with the koshibagaki, a low brushwood fence, it conveys the atmosphere of the Heian period to this day.
• ​Nonomiya Daikokuten and the Okame-ishi Stone​​: Nonomiya Daikokuten, an auxiliary shrine within the grounds, is dedicated to good matches and marriage. It is said that if you make a wish while rubbing the sacred Okame-ishi Stone beside it, your wish will be fulfilled within one year. The shrine grounds also enshrine deities such as Shirafuku Inari Daimyojin, who protects fertility and safe childbirth.
• ​Saio Procession​​: The journey of the saio from the capital to Ise was called the Saio Gunko; it is said that the retinue numbered several hundred people and the journey took 6 days and 5 nights to reach Ise. The "Saio Procession," which reenacts this journey, is held in Arashiyama.

Walking Tips

The shrine is regarded as a starting point for exploring Sagano, and the Chikurin-no-Komichi Path in Arashiyama passes right by it. Tenryu-ji Temple is about 200 meters to the southwest, the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is about 300 meters to the west, Rakushisha Hermitage is about 430 meters to the northwest, and Torokko Saga Station is about 610 meters to the east.