Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-10-06 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
Our guide
Amanoiwato Shrine in Takachiho, Miyazaki, is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu. It stands above the gorge that holds Ama-no-Iwato, the cave where, in Japanese legend, the goddess hid after a battle with her brother, plunging the world into darkness until Ame-no-Uzume, spirit of merriment, lured her out.
The cave itself is an object of worship and lies across the Iwato River from the shrine's Nishi Hongū. It can be seen from the Nishi Hongū after taking part in a Shinto purification rite.
Kushifuru Shrine is about 4.3 km away in a straight line. We have not checked a public-transport route.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- Amanoiwato-west-shrine (28795304727) — Big Ben in Japan · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source · resized
- Amanoyasugawara — Takasunrise0921 · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Tajikarao — As6673 · Public domain · source · resized
- 天岩戸神社の招霊の木 - panoramio — sk01 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- 天岩戸神社の神楽殿 - panoramio — sk01 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Shinto Priests (31539867015) — David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada · CC BY 2.0 · source · resized
- Amanoiwato-jinja - Place to Store old Amulets and Talismans 2024 — Sanjo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Amanoiwato-jinja (天岩戸神社) is a Shinto shrine located in Takachiho, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. It is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu and sits above the gorge containing Ama-no-Iwato, the cave where, according to Japanese legend, the goddess hid after battle with her brother, plunging the world into darkness until lured out by the spirit of merriment Ame-no-Uzume. The Amano-Iwato cave is an object of worship in festivals and is a rock cave on the other side of the Iwato River from nishihongū. You can see the cave from nishihongū after participating in a Shinto ritual for purification.
Visitor information checked: 2026-10-06 · Amanoiwato Shrine: worship guidance
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Shrine
Getting there
We do not have step-by-step transit directions for this spot yet. Open the location on Google Maps for routes from where you are staying.
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