Aso Jinja (Aso Shrine)
あそじんじゃ
One of Japan's three great tower gates (Romon), this site considers the crater of Mount Aso as its sacred body. It is the first shrine of Higo Province with a history spanning over 2,000 years.
Overview
The enshrined deities (kami) include Takeiwata-tsu-no-Mikoto (the grandson of Emperor Jimmu and the pioneer of Aso) along with 12 family deities. As an ancient shrine with over 2,000 years of history, it blends volcanic worship—treating the Mount Aso crater as a sacred body—and serves as the head shrine for approximately 500 Aso shrines across Japan. The Romon (tower gate), built in 1850 CE (Kaei 3), stands about 18 meters tall and is counted as one of the 'Three Great Tower Gates of Japan.' Although the Romon and Haiden (worship hall) collapsed during the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake, restoration work was completed in December 2023 CE (Reiwa 5).
Enshrined deity / legend
Takeiwata-tsu-no-Mikoto
Highlights
- ・One of the Three Great Tower Gates of Japan (Important Cultural Property)
- ・Volcanic worship with the Mount Aso crater as the sacred body
- ・Remote worship of the 'Kamichi' crater lake from Yamagami Shrine
- ・Head shrine for approximately 500 Aso shrines across Japan
Details may change. Please check official sources before visiting.