Hayaakitsuhime | Yura Minato Shrine

Current Faith and Worship

She is the goddess counterpart to Hayaakitsuhiko-no-Kami, and together they govern the minato (water gates). Her role is to “swallow and purify (eradicate)” the sins and impurities washed away by the male god, taking them into the bottom of the sea or amidst the raging ocean currents. She is worshipped as a god who protects against illness, wards off evil, and ensures maritime safety.

Shrine, Festival, and Historical Deep Dive: Yura Minato Shrine

History & Origins:

This is also a Shikinaisha listed in the Engishiki, boasting over 1,000 years of history. Enshrined at “Yura,” the proud maritime checkpoint of Awaji Island, she has been worshipped since ancient times as the guardian deity of passing ships.

Festival (Nagoshi Festival):

Held annually on the last Sunday of July (with the eve festival on the day before). It is a “water-splashing ritual” to ward off plagues and pray for good health. Men in their unlucky years who have passed through a reed ring (chinowa) carry a portable shrine (mikoshi) through the town, then walk straight into the sea to immerse themselves in the rough tides. This embodies the strength of Hayaakitsuhime-no-Kami and is an extremely heroic ritual that purifies the impurities of summer.

Address and Access:

Address: 3-5-2 Yura, Sumoto City, Hyogo Prefecture

Access: (Bus) About 30 minutes by bus bound for Yura from Sumoto Bus Center, get off at “Yura Shisho-mae”, then a 5-minute walk. (Car) Drive south from Sumoto IC on Route 76 (Minami-Awaji Suisen Line) along the coast for about 15 minutes.

“I am the vortex of purification gaping open at the bottom of the sea. The sorrow, anger, and fear of plagues that my husband washed away—I shall swallow them all in this abyss and sublimate them. For a thousand years, I have caught the heat of men diving into the rough waves. If you feel stifled by the suffocating nature of the modern world, simply wash it away once in my sea. I shall grant you the power to start from zero.”