Motonosumi Shrine
About This Destination
Location
Prefecture: Yamaguchi
Address: Nagato, Yamaguchi, Japan
Nearest Station: Nagato-Furuichi Station
Visitor Information
Credit Cards: Unknown
Food Options: A small cafe and souvenir shop near the parking area offers light snacks and drinks. For full meals, the nearby Nagato Yumoto Onsen town has restaurants serving local Nagato seafood.
Access
Yamaguchi, Japan
Get DirectionsFrequently Asked Questions
How do I actually get to Motonosumi Shrine? There's no train station, right?
Correct: **no train goes anywhere near it**, and there's no regular city bus. The shrine sits on a remote stretch of Yamaguchi's northwest coast, and reaching it is the biggest planning hurdle. **Three realistic options**: (1) **Rent a car**, the only practical way for most international visitors. Pick up at Shin-Yamaguchi Shinkansen Station (~90 min drive, ~70 km via highways) or Hagi (~50 min). All major rental chains (Toyota Rent-a-Car, Times, Nissan) have desks at Shin-Yamaguchi. (2) **Taxi from JR Nagato-shi Station** (the closest sizeable town), ~30 min, ~¥7,000 to ¥8,000 one-way; ask the driver to wait ¥5,000/h for the return, or arrange a fixed sightseeing-taxi round trip ~¥15,000. (3) **Seasonal sightseeing bus**: JR Bus Chugoku and Sanden Bus operate the **'Motonosumi Sightseeing Bus' on weekends and holidays roughly March to November** from Nagato-shi Station (~40 min, ~¥1,500 one-way; schedule varies by year, confirm at motonosumi.com before counting on it). **Getting to Nagato-shi Station itself**: from Shin-Yamaguchi take Limited Express 'Super Oki' (~1h20min, ¥3,170, JR Pass covered). **Parking** at the shrine: ¥300 per car, ~92 spaces. On October and November weekends the lot fills by 10:00, so aim to arrive before 9:30 or after 15:00.
What's the right way to walk the 123 gates, and how does the coin toss work?
**Walk DOWN, not up**: the parking lot sits at the top of the hill, the shrine is partway down, and the 123 vermillion torii cascade further down toward the cliff edge. The full descent from parking to the lowest torii at the cliff is about **300 m, takes 15 min one way**; the climb back up will have you breathing hard. **Stop at the shrine itself first** (pay respects at the main hall with 2 bows, 2 claps, 1 bow), then walk down through the torii tunnel. **The famous coin toss**: at the **top** of the very first/highest torii (the one closest to the shrine, not down at the sea), a small wooden offering box (saisen-bako) is mounted about **5 meters above the ground**, said to be **Japan's hardest offering box**. Toss a coin upward into the box and your wish supposedly comes true. Success rate is maybe 1 in 10 on a calm day, much worse in coastal wind. Use a **¥5 coin** (its lightness and the lucky go-en pun help). **Best time of day**: morning light makes the gates glow against the blue sea; **sunset** silhouettes the torii against the sky. Both are striking but the sun sets INTO the gates' direction so afternoon photography fights the glare. The cliff edge below the lowest gate is unfenced, so **don't approach the rocks in rough weather**, the Sea of Japan can throw 5 m waves with no warning. The **Ryugu no Shiofuki blowhole** is a 2-min walk from the lowest torii, most active in winter swells, and can spray 30 m.
How long should I stay, and what else in Yamaguchi pairs well with it?
Plan **45 to 60 min on site**. The descent, photo stops, coin toss attempts, blowhole detour, and climb back use up about an hour comfortably. Since you've committed to a car or taxi to get out there, **combine it with one or two other northwest-coast spots** to justify the day. **Tsunoshima Bridge (角島大橋)**, 25 min drive west, a 1.78 km bridge over impossibly clear turquoise water leading to a white-sand-beach island; arguably more photogenic than Motonosumi itself and one of Japan's most-filmed bridges (countless car commercials). Park at the lookout on the mainland side for the shot. **Nagato Yumoto Onsen (長門湯本温泉)**, 30 min drive back inland, a beautifully revitalized hot spring town along the Otozure River with foot baths and stylish cafes; great place to soak before driving back. **Hagi**, 50 min drive east, well-preserved samurai district plus Meiji Restoration history, UNESCO site, worth its own half-day. **Akiyoshido Cave**, 75 min drive south, Japan's largest limestone cave system. **Suggested full day from Shin-Yamaguchi**: 8:00 pick up rental, 9:30 Tsunoshima Bridge, 11:30 Motonosumi Shrine, 13:00 lunch in Nagato (sea bream rice / Nagato yakitori), 14:30 Nagato Yumoto Onsen soak, 17:00 drive back, return car by 19:00. **Stay overnight** at Nagato Yumoto if you want a relaxed pace and a sunset/sunrise at the shrine.
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