Amano Iwato shrine is associated with the famous Japanese legend of Sun Goddess Amaterasu hiding in a cave. This is one of the most interesting shinto places I’ve seen in Japan.
Shimomiya, a small shrine sitting amidst rice fields in Aso caldera, would be totally unremarkable if not for one thing: an unusual event that takes place here every year from August to October.
Aso is a huge caldera of an ancient supervolcano that, as a result of its massive past super-eruptions collapsed onto itself, leaving an area of indented ground with a mountain range at its center which now holds an active crater. I rented a car and explored the area for 2 days.
Usa Jingu is one of the oldest and most important Shinto shrines in Japan. It is dedicated to Hachiman deity, and is the ancestor of all other Hachiman shrines.