An Ancient Shrine Where Faith Has Endured with the Sea
Mekari Shrine is an ancient Shinto shrine with a history of approximately 1,800 years, enshrined at the northernmost tip of Kyushu and facing the Kanmon Straits.According to tradition, the shrine was established after Empress Jingū received an oracle at this site. The enshrined deity is Seoritsuhime, often described as a moon-associated goddess. She is revered as a deity of purification through ritual cleansing and as a guiding presence connected to the ebb and flow of the tides.
The Kanmon Straits have, since ancient times, been a vital maritime passage with constant ship traffic, while also being known as a challenging waterway due to their swift and complex currents. Mekari Shrine has long watched over these waters, and prayers here have continued in close relationship with the sea.
A Shrine Facing the Straits at Close Range
Within the shrine grounds are a worship hall and a shrine office. What makes Mekari Shrine distinctive is the Kanmon Straits unfolding fully before your eyes.Standing beside the torii gate along the shoreline, you can see the swift currents of the strait and vessels passing directly in front of you. Ferries and cargo ships move through the channel without pause, making it clear that this remains an active and important maritime route today.
The scenery changes dramatically with the time of day. Toward evening, the setting sun sinks beyond the strait, and the silhouette of the Kanmon Bridge comes into view. It is a scene that naturally invites visitors to slow their pace and take it in. The rare combination of sea, bridge, ships, and torii gate in a single view is something unique to Mekari Shrine.
Amulets and Sacred Items
At the shrine office, visitors can receive amulets and draw fortune slips. The amulets are traditionally chosen according to one’s wishes—whether wishing to increase something or to reduce something in one’s life.
Some visitors choose them for safe travels, while others seek gentle guidance as they take a new step forward. These amulets also make a meaningful keepsake of your visit, marking a moment of reflection during your journey.
Major credit cards, including Visa, JCB, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club, and Discover, are accepted at the shrine office, along with transportation IC cards and various QR code payment options.
Sacred Rituals
One of the most important rituals at Mekari Shrine is the Mekari Shinji, a sacred ceremony that has been performed since the shrine’s founding.Held once a year in the deep night of the lunar New Year’s Day, based on Japan’s traditional calendar, the ritual reenacts the moment when Empress Jingū is said to have received a sacred jewel from the sea deity. During the ceremony, Shinto priests enter the sea and harvest wakame and arame, two types of traditional Japanese seaweed.
Wakame has long been regarded as an auspicious sea plant, known for being among the earliest of all living things to grow and flourish. It was believed to have healing properties, and historical records indicate that harvested wakame was once presented to the imperial court and regional lords.
Performed alongside this ritual is the Yudate Kagura, a sacred dance that symbolizes the origin of all things. In traditional Japanese belief, people have long expressed gratitude to the sun and the moon, while honoring the elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. It expresses the roots of Japanese culture and ways of thinking, shaped by a life lived in coexistence with nature and experienced through all five senses.
Schedule (2026)
Yudate Kagura
February 16, 2026, from 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. the following day
(canceled in case of rain)
Mekari Shinji Ritual
February 17, 2026, approximately from 2:30 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.
(will be conducted even in rainy weather)
Access & Visiting Information
The shrine grounds are open to visitors at all times, and there is no admission fee.
Shrine Office (amulets and fortune slips): 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
By Nishitetsu Bus: Routes 4 or 74, get off at Mekari Shrine-mae
By Taxi: Approximately 7 minutes from Mojiko Station
By Rental Bicycle: Approximately 10 minutes from the Mojiko Retro district
Mekari Shrine on Instagram
[Official Instagram account]