Iki tourist site7 Shrine pilgrimage
Sumiyoshi Shrine
Enshrined Gods: Sokotsutsu no onomikoto・Nakatsutsu no onomikoto・Uwatsutsu no onomikoto
470 Sumiyoshi Higashi-fure, Ashibe-cho, Iki-shi 〒811-5742
This shrine, located near the center of the island, has a connection to Jingu Kogo, and is one of Iki’s representative Shinto shrines. Near the front of the worship hall, there is a camphor tree that branches into two parts, representing a married couple. If a man makes a full circle around the left of the tree, and a woman around the right, it is said that their wishes will come true. Every year on December 20, from 2:00pm, a 7-hour long Kagura performance is offered to the gods there.
Hongu Hachiman Shrine
Enshrined Gods：Sumiyoshi Okami, Shomo Okami, Hachiman Okami
1437 Hongu Nishi-fure, Katsumoto-cho, Iki-shi 〒811-5541
If you climb up towards the peak of the mountain and go up a path surrounded by the greenery of trees. You will find stone lanterns and the statue of a bird. The people of Katsumoto, who were formerly very prosperous due to the whaling industry, dedicated many Ema (small wooden plaques on which prayers or wishes are written) to the shrine, and these call still be seen today.
Shomogu
Enshrined Gods：Okinagatarashihime no mikoto (Jingu Kogo) & 6 other gods
554-2 Katsumoto-ura, Katsumoto-cho, Iki-shi 〒811-5501
This shrine has a rich history of more than 1300 years, protecting the entire Katsumoto region and worshipping Jingu Kogo.Within the shrine grounds, your eyes may be drawn to an enormous giant clam used as a washbasin for purification upon entering. The Shomogu festival is held from the early morning of October 10, as the gods are carried and transported around the town in celebration.October 14 is the Miyukibune boat race, and on October 15 there is a fishing boat parade amongst other festivities, fitting for a festival in a port town.
Hakozaki Hachiman Shrine
Enshrined Gods：Toyotamahime no mikoto & 9 other gods
1294 Hakozaki Kuginoo-fure, Ashibe-cho, Iki-shi 〒811-5465
Old names refer to this shrine as the "shrine opposite the ocean," And it is a valuable asset in understanding the origins of the whaling industry on Iki. After passing through the first torii gate, as you head towards the second one,on your left side there is a water basin for purifying in the shape of a peach. If you look up at the vermillion-colored worship hall, you can see richly expressive animal engravings like elephants and doves.
Kunikatanushi Shrine
Enshrined Gods：Sukunahikona no mikoto、Kansoshokoku
766 Kokubu Higashi-fure, Ashibe-cho, Iki-shi 〒811-5732
Sukunahikona no mikoto (Issun-boshi) is worshipped at this shrine. Within the shrine grounds there are three small torii gates for making wishes. There is a practice of going through the three gates and making a prayer. There is a maneki-neko (figure of a cat) that is said to bring good luck if rotated.
Ko Shrine
Enshrined Gods：Tarashinakatsuhiko Tenno & 6 other gods
676 Yutake Ko-fure, Ashibe-cho, Iki-shi 〒811-5755
According to the shrine records, the neighboring area was called Ko, and it is thought that the government of the Iki kingdom formerly had a palace there.
Hakusa Hachiman Shrine
Enshrined Gods : Ojin Tenno & 6 other gods
1012-3 Tsutsuki Naka-fure, Ishida-cho, Iki-shi 〒811-5202
A giant torii gate is the landmark of Hakusa Hachiman Shrine. On the left and right side of the torii gate there are doves, the messengers of Hachiman. The dense forest surrounding the shrine is part of a prefectural designated natural monument. The 36 poem wooden canvas offered by the 29th Hirado feudal lord, Matsuura Shigenobu, is also famous.
Iki tourist sitePower spot pilgrimage
Ondake Shrine
Enshrined Gods：Sarutahiko no mikoto
1678 Hakozaki Honmura-fure, Ashibe-cho, Iki-shi 〒811-5466
There are more than 200 stone monkey statues lined up at Ondake Shrine. Sarutahiko no mikoto is known as the god of festivals, making arrangements and guiding one during tests. Up until the Meiji period, the entire mountain was considered the god itself; it was such a sacred place that regular people were not allowed to climb the mountain at all. Behind the worship hall is a large boulder considered to encompass the spirit of the god. It has magnetic properties, so compasses do not work regularly in its vicinity. In recent years it has received attention for being a power spot.
Medake Shrine
Enshrined Gods：Amenouzume no mikoto
135 Hakozaki Kuginoo-fure, Ashibe-cho, Iki-shi 〒811-5465
The spirit of the god of Medake Shrine is encompassed in a boulder called Sukuhi-ishi, and like that of Ondake Shrine, it has magnetic properties that leave compasses unusable in its vicinity. Amenouzume no mikoto is the wife of Sarutahiko no mikoto, the god of Ondake Shrine, so there are many people who visit both shrines.
Tsukiyomi Shrine
Enshrined Gods：Tsukiyomi no mikoto・Tsukuyumi no mikoto・Tsukiyomu no mikoto
464 Kokubu Higashi-fure, Ashibe-cho, Iki-shi 〒811-5732
This is a shrine that worships Amaterasu Omikami’s sibling, Tsukiyomi no mikoto. There is a Tsukiyomi Shrine within the grounds of Kyoto’s Matsuno Otaisha,And it is said that the spirit was brought there from Iki. The power of the moon god is said to be closely related to women.
Niji Shrine
Enshrined Gods：Shinatsuhiko no mikoto, Okinagatarashihime no mikoto, & 7 other gods
979 Ariyasu-fure, Gonoura-cho, Iki-shi 〒811-5107
There is a giant boulder at the back of the main shrine called Kochi-ishi.It is said that Jingu Kogo prayed for favorable winds before attacking the Korean peninsula, and that the stone broke perfectly into two pieces, with a fresh wind blowing through from the East. As the legend goes, they were able to safely make the journey to Korea.This boulder is 3.4 meters wide, 2.7 meters tall, and has a circumference of 11.5 meters.It is said to have magnetic properties since compasses do not working properly in its vicinity.
Kojima Shrine
Enshrined Gods：Izanami no mikoto, Kagutsuchi no mikoto, Haniyasuhime no mikoto, Susanowo no mikoto
1969 Moroyoshi Futamata-fure, Ashibe-cho,
Iki-shi 〒811-5315
The entire island is considered a sacred space so even taking a twig from the Kojima Shrine is not permitted. Because of the ebb and flow of the tides created by the gravitational forces of the sun and moon, At low tide the ocean recedes and a path to the shrine appears. At high tide it becomes an island. This shrine has gained popularity as a power spot. There is about an hour before and after the low tide when the island can be visited so please check the tide schedule before visiting.
Sai Shrine
Enshrined Gods：Sarutahiko no mikoto, Amenouzume no mikoto
70 Gonoura, Gounoura-cho, Iki-shi 〒811-5135
Sarutahiko no mikoto and Amenouzume no mikoto, husband and wife, are honored here.This shrine is very responsive to prayers: matchmaking, safe birth, married couples’ harmony, examinations, disease prevention, safe travel, etc.
Now, we’re off to the island of the gods.
Japan’s oldest historical record, the Kojiki. In the introductory chapter of this text, there is a legend of how the couple Izanagi and Izanami give birth to the nation. They create 8 islands which later become Japan, the fifth of which is here, Iki. In the Kojiki, Iki is also called Amenohitotsubashira, or “pillar to heaven”. The “bashira” in this name means ‘pillar,’ indicating a location that connects the heavens and earth. In other words, it is thought that Iki was one of these locations that acted as a bridge to connect the two realms. Iki has deep connections with the gods, and the island is covered with many shrines, more than 150 of which are officially registered with the official Association. There are some in the solitary heart of the mountains, and others, right next to the ocean. These places are an important part of the lives of the people of Iki and they hold a special place in the community. The 42 shrines selected here are particularly revered since the gods they enshrine protect their respective communities. You will surely be able to appreciate the wonders of Iki if you go around visiting these shrines. So, how about coming to this mysterious island where you can feel the breath of the spirits in the air?
