"Guardian of the Grass-Cutting Sword and Japan's Imperial legitimacy"
Atsuta Shrine
Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Atsuta Shrine houses Kusanagi-no-tsurugi, the Grass-Cutting Sword—one of three sacred objects that legitimize Japan's Imperial throne. The sword has not been seen publicly since the 7th century. Found by the god Susanoo in the tail of an eight-headed serpent, passed to Amaterasu, and inherited by the legendary warrior Yamato Takeru, it represents the martial virtue of Japan itself. Nine million pilgrims visit annually, making Atsuta second only to Ise Grand Shrine in Shinto sanctity. The treasure hall displays over 4,000 artifacts, including 174 Important Cultural Properties.
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Quick Facts
Location
Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Tradition
Site Type
Coordinates
35.1232, 136.9050
Last Updated
Jan 23, 2026
Atsuta Shrine was founded in 113 CE to enshrine the sacred sword Kusanagi and the possessions of the legendary warrior Yamato Takeru. It houses one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan.
Origin Story
According to the Kojiki, the god Susanoo slew the eight-headed serpent Yamata no Orochi to save a princess. In the serpent's tail, he found a magnificent sword, which he presented to his sister Amaterasu, the sun goddess. The sword passed through generations until it reached the legendary warrior prince Yamato Takeru, who carried it in his campaigns to pacify Japan. When enemies trapped him in a grass fire, the sword's power controlled the wind and cut an escape path—earning the name Kusanagi, Grass-Cutter. Yamato Takeru died in 113 CE. His widow Miyasuhime enshrined his possessions, including the sacred sword, at what became Atsuta Shrine. The sword has remained here for 1,900 years, though historical accounts suggest it may have been moved briefly during times of conflict. Some historians debate whether the original sword was lost at the Battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185 when Emperor Antoku drowned with the Heike—but the shrine maintains the sword's presence as a matter of faith.
Key Figures
Kusanagi-no-tsurugi
The sacred sword itself—one of three Imperial Regalia, never publicly displayed since the 7th century
Yamato Takeru
The legendary warrior prince who wielded the sword and whose death led to its enshrinement at Atsuta
Susanoo
The god who discovered the sword in the tail of the eight-headed serpent and presented it to Amaterasu
Spiritual Lineage
Atsuta Shrine ranks second only to Ise Grand Shrine in Shinto sanctity. The enshrined deity Atsuta-no-Ōkami is understood as Amaterasu manifest in sword form.
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