[2025 New Year's Shrine Visit Guide] Spectacular views! "New Year's Shrine Visit While Driving" Yamaguchi Prefecture's "Motonosumi Shrine"

At the beginning of the year, people visit shrines to give thanks for the past year and pray for safety and happiness in the new year.

We will introduce some recommended shrines to visit for your first visit of the year in Fukuoka Prefecture, based on a driving article by ARNE writer CHIHIRO.

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A must-visit along with Tsunoshima! "Motonosumi Shrine" (Yamaguchi Prefecture)

Motonosumi Shrine is located in the Nagato area, about 30 kilometers east of Tsunoshima, one of Yamaguchi Prefecture's most scenic driving spots, and about 35 minutes by car from the Tsunoshima area.

It is located in a special place, overlooking the natural phenomenon of Ryugu's Tide, which erupts from a sea cave, with the magnificent Sea of Japan as a backdrop.

Image: CHIHIRO

The 123 torii gates lined up against the sea are a sight to behold! A shrine with a spectacular view that is "attracting attention from around the world"

Motonosumi Shrine is famous for its 123 torii gates lined up in a row with the sea in the background!

The torii gate, which was dedicated over a period of 10 years starting from 1987, is truly a spectacular sight.

Image: CHIHIRO

It is said that the shrine bestows blessings on visitors include prosperity in business, a good catch, safety at sea, good luck in finding a partner, having children, protection from misfortune, prosperity, road safety, and academic success.

It was also selected as one of the 31 most beautiful places in Japan by the American television station CNN in 2015, and is a spot that has attracted attention from around the world.

Image: CHIHIRO

Expensive and small! The "hardest offering box in Japan"!?

The torii gate isn't the only thing that Motonosumi Shrine is famous for.

The offering box at the large torii gate is also noteworthy; it is about 6m high and smaller than a normal offering box, making it sometimes referred to as "the hardest offering box in Japan to put something in."

It is said that if you can successfully throw your offering into the offering box, your wish will come true.

Image: CHIHIRO

If your offering does not fit inside the box, there is another one at the bottom right of the torii gate, so please put your offering there before praying!

Traveling by car is recommended! Access to Motonosumi Shrine

Motonosumi Shrine is located in a place that is difficult to reach using public transportation alone.

If you go by car, it is about 60 minutes from Mine IC on the Chugoku Expressway (the shrine officials recommend setting "Shiokaze Restaurant" in your navigation system).

There are two parking lots: "Ryuguno Shiofuki Parking Lot No. 1," which can accommodate 92 passenger cars, and "Ryuguno Shiofuki Parking Lot No. 2," which can accommodate 24 passenger cars. In both cases, the parking fee for passenger cars is 300 yen per hour (100 yen per hour after that, up to a maximum of 500 yen).

If you take a taxi, it is about 20 minutes from JR Sanin Main Line Nagato Furuichi Station, about 20 minutes from JR Sanin Main Line Hitomaru Station, and about 40 minutes from JR Sanin Main Line Nagatoshi Station.

The area is expected to be crowded during the first three days of the New Year. Please check the surrounding traffic conditions before heading out. (Written by ARNE Editorial Department)

＜Click on the store name for more information about the facility ↓＞
■Motonosumi Shrine
Address: 498 Yuyatsuki, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Visiting hours: 7:00-16:30 *Entry and photography at night is prohibited
Parking: Available
HP:https://www.motonosumi.com/
Instagram:@motonosumi_shrine

*This article contains information current at the time of publication.
* Any secondary use of the content of this site (images, text, etc.) such as duplication, reproduction, diversion, modification, etc. without permission is strictly prohibited. If found to be in violation, legal action may be taken.

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#Breathtaking view　#Yamaguchi Prefecture　#Shrines and temples
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