Atsuta Shrine — Sacred Sword & 1,900 Years of Worship

Atsuta Shrine (熱田神宮, Atsuta Jingu) ranks among Japan's most important Shinto shrines, housing the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi (草薙の剣, 'Grass-Cutting Sword'), one of the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan that symbolize imperial authority. According to legend, the shrine was established in 113 AD when the sacred sword was enshrined here after being recovered from the sea. The current shrine buildings date to 1955 (rebuilt after WWII air raids), but the sacred forest surrounding the shrine contains trees over 1,000 years old.

The shrine grounds span 190,000 square meters of dense forest within urban Nagoya, creating an atmosphere of ancient sanctity. The main worship hall (hongu) is built in shinmei-zukuri style — the oldest Shinto architectural form characterized by simple, unpainted cypress wood and a thatched roof. The Treasure Hall (Homotsukan) displays 6,000+ artifacts including swords, armor, and scrolls donated by imperial families and samurai clans over centuries.