Oyamazumi Shrine
大山祇神社
An ancient shrine to the god of mountains and sea on Omishima, Shimanami Kaido. Known for a camphor tree of about 2,600 years and treasured armour and swords.
A god of the mountains, and of the sea
Oyamazumi Shrine is a Shinto shrine on Omishima, an island in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. It enshrines Oyamazumi no Okami, who is a god of the mountains but is also regarded as a god of the sea and of seafaring.
According to the shrine's own tradition, it began when Ochi no Mikoto, said to be a descendant of Oyamazumi no Okami, enshrined the god on this island, and it moved to its present site in 719. It is called the Nihon Sochinju (the shrine that protects all of Japan), and it is also the ichinomiya (the highest-ranking shrine in a region) of Iyo Province, today's Ehime Prefecture. It is the head shrine of more than 10,000 branch shrines across Japan.
The commanders of the suigun (sea-going warrior bands) who were active in the Seto Inland Sea were also devoted to this shrine. The Kono clan and the Kurushima Murakami clan adopted the shrine's crest, the oshiki ni sanmonji (the character for "three" on a tray), as their own family crest.
A sacred tree about 2,600 years old
In front of the main hall towers a camphor tree said to have been planted by Ochi no Mikoto himself. It is believed to be about 2,600 years old, and it is the shrine's shinboku (a sacred tree in which a god is believed to dwell). The group of camphor trees in the shrine grounds was designated a national Natural Monument in 1951.
The main hall and the haiden (the worship hall, in front of which visitors pray) were both rebuilt at the start of the Muromachi period, and are national Important Cultural Properties.
The treasure hall of "the island of national treasures"
The treasure hall in the shrine grounds holds armour and swords offered by warriors. It is said that about 80 per cent of all the arms and armour designated as National Treasures or national Important Cultural Properties are kept here, which is why Omishima is also called "the island of national treasures".
You can also see pieces with stories behind them, such as a suit of armour (an Important Cultural Property) said to have been worn by Tsuruhime, the daughter of the shrine's chief priest, in a battle in 1541. Check the shrine's official website for what is on display and the opening hours.
Getting there
From outside JR Imabari Station, take a limited express or express bus for about 65 minutes and get off at Oyamazumi-jinja-mae; the shrine is right there. If you are coming from the Honshu side on the Shimanami Liner highway bus, change to a local bus at the Omishima bus stop, about 12 minutes from there.
By car, it is about 10 minutes from the Omishima interchange on the Shimanami Kaido. According to Imabari City, allow about 30 minutes just to visit the shrine, and about 60 minutes for the treasure hall.
Tips
- Visiting the shrine grounds is free, but there is a charge for the treasure hall. If you are interested in armour and weapons, don't miss it.
- The car park beside the torii (the gate that marks a shrine) has only a few spaces, so keep the nearby municipal car park (Fuji Park) in mind as an alternative.
- The gates close at a set time. If you are stopping here while cycling the Shimanami Kaido, plan so that you don't arrive late in the afternoon.
Sources
Updated 29 September 2026. Opening hours and prices change, so check the official site before you go.
