Amano Iwato Shrine

Takachiho is the birthplace of Shinto, Japan’s indigenous religion.

The origin story of Shinto is set in the cave behind Amano Iwato

Shrine and at Amano Yasugawara. According to the myth,

Amaterasu, the Shinto sun goddess, became so outraged by her

brother’s cruel pranks that she hid herself in a cave, refusing to

come out and depriving the world of her life-giving light.

All of the other gods and goddesses gathered to lure her out.

They tried everything they could think of to no avail until one goddess

performed an outrageously ribald dance that caused the other gods

to roar with laughter. Amaterasu left the cave to see what all the fun

was about, and in doing so she returned her light to the world.

Amano Iwato Shrine

About ten kilometers outside of central Takachiho, Amano Iwato Shrine

was built near the Cave where Amaterasu is said to have hid herself

away.

The cave cannot be approached, however, there is an observation

deck behind the shrine’s main building from where you can gaze

across the river. In order to access the observation deck, you need

to inquire at the shrine entrance, and a priest will give you a quick

guided tour.

Amano Yasukawara

A short walk down the road from Amano Iwato Shrine is a path

that leads down to the river below. After a few minutes on this

path you will see neat little piles of stones stacked along the

river by previous visitors to mark their pilgrimage to this

“power spot”.

Farther along, the stacks become more numerous until you

are surrounded by literally thousands of them as far as you can see.

Eventually the path leads to a simple shrine inside a cave known

as Amano Yasugawara.

This is said to be the cave where the gods and goddesses met

to discuss their strategy of luring Amaterasu out of hiding.

The natural beauty of the cave and river lined by countless stacks

of stones make Amano Yasukawara a place not to miss.