Ama no Iwato Shrine

Ama no Iwato Shrine is one of Japan's most mythologically significant shrines, marking the cave where the sun goddess Amaterasu hid after a dispute with her brother Susanoo, plunging the world into darkness. According to the Kojiki, the other gods gathered at the nearby Amano Yasukawara riverbed cave to devise a plan to lure her out with a raucous celebration. The shrine spans both banks of the Iwato River, with the Western Shrine offering guided views of the actual cave from across the gorge. The Amano Yasukawara cave is a short walk upstream, where visitors stack stones to make wishes amid hundreds of cairns left by pilgrims. Combined with nearby Takachiho Gorge, this area offers an unforgettable journey into the heart of Japanese mythology.