Hijieagata Shrine in Fushimi, Nagoya

13/10/2025

When visiting temples or shrines in Japan, please remember that these are sacred places. Any behavior that shows disrespect — such as touching sacred objects, entering restricted areas, or making noise — can be seen as both culturally offensive and legally punishable under Japanese law (Article 188 of the Penal Code).

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Hdden shrine in Office area near Nagoya station

Shrines can be found all over Japan. This particular shrine is located amidst the office-filled streets near Nagoya Station. I happened to find it while taking a walk. It is called Hijie Shrine (泥江縣神社). The reading of “泥” as hiji is quite unusuale and intriguing. The name “Hijie” (泥江) refers to a sandy beach with mud, indicating that this area was once a seaside location. As you can see in a below picture, this shrine was originally established in the 800s. It has been destroyed by fire several times, and the current structure was built in 1967.

The area inside the torii gate of a shrine is considered sacred, so it’s natural for it to be well-maintained, and this shrine is no exception. It’s fascinating to find such a serene, otherworldly space right in the middle of an office district.

At the edge of the shrine’s grounds, there is a row of red torii gates belonging to an Inari shrine. It’s quite common to find Inari shrines within the premises of other shrines. For example, the Miwa Shrine in nearby Osu also has one. Even though I am Japanese, I do not understand the reason why Inari Torigates are often placed on other shinto shrines.

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I’ve compiled a list of Nagoya’s places that I’ve personally visited. Is Nagoya boring? Not at all! While it has developed as an industrial city, it also hides interesting places full of history and culture. Use this guide to explore Nagoya and discover its hidden gems.