Chiba Prefecture Charms - Shrines

Beautiful and historic Shinto shrines are windows into culture and history. When I plan a trip to Chiba Prefecture destinations, I always research the shrines on my itinerary. They’re fascinating and sometimes quirky. I keep going back to these gems:

Chiba’s City’s elaborate Myoken Hongu, dedicated to the North Star, is a must-see in Chiba City. The vermilion gates and eaves, the zodiac animal friezes, and the pond filled with koi tick all the boxes. The shrine’s festival in August has been celebrated every year since 1127.

Sakuragi Shrine in Noda City, dedicated to rice seedlings, is best visited in spring to see the many varieties of weeping cherry trees. The shrine has many early and late blooming trees, too. If you miss prime sakura season, try again in October when the jugatsuzakura put on a show.

Noda City’s Atago Shrine is one of Chiba Prefecture’s tangible cultural properties because of its elaborate wood carvings. Every new year, the shrine displays kadomatsu decorations are said to be the tallest in Japan. 

Funabashi’s Ohi Shrine has lots of visual appeal and some special features. The shrine dedicated by Prince Yamato Takeru to the sun goddess Amaterasu has a lighthouse, a boat-shaped shrine, and an elaborate sub-shrine with a facade reminiscent of Nikko Toshogu.

For the warrior god Futsunushi no kami’s blessing, martial artists visit Katori Jingu. It’s a grand shrine with impressive decoration, mysterious kaname stones intended to prevent earthquakes, and a main structure that was supposed to be rebuilt in the Ise tradition. The rebuilding ceased in the 18th century.