Motonosumi Shrine

Background

Motonosumi Shrine stands at 498 Yuyatsuo, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, on cliffs facing the Sea of Japan. The 123 torii gates line the slope all the way to the sea, and 123 is regarded as an auspicious number in Japan; the great torii by the cliff is about 6 metres tall, with an offertory box on top, and landing a coin in it is said to make your wish come true; when the waves are high you may also see the Dragon Palace blowhole (Ryugu no Shiofuki), where waves crash into a hole in the cliff and spray a column of water into the air, reportedly as high as 30 metres. The shrine was built in 1955 and is said to have begun with a local fisherman's dream of a white fox; over the following ten years or so, torii gates were dedicated one after another to form today's corridor; in 2015, CNN named it one of the 31 most beautiful places in Japan.

Local customs

• Walk down the torii corridor from top to bottom toward the cliff edge, watching the sea as you go
• try tossing a coin into the offertory box on top of the great torii
• walk to the cliff edge to see the Dragon Palace blowhole and hear the waves crashing into the cave
• on a fine evening, see the torii gates framed with the setting sun.

Travel tips

• No public transport runs directly to the shrine, so visitors generally take a taxi or rental car from the nearest station
• there are very few places to eat nearby, so it is best to bring drinking water and lunch
• the slopes and steps are steep and numerous, so wear comfortable walking shoes. If you drive, you can go right up to the shrine area
• please check the officially published routes before setting out.
• Any season suits a fine day, and the sea is bluest in spring and summer
• the Dragon Palace blowhole is easier to see on days with big waves, but in winter the wind is strong and the paths can be slippery, so take extra care.