Written by Jane Pipkin
Suwa Shrine is Nagasaki’s most significant Shinto shrine. It is also the center of one of Japan’s three major festivals, the Nagasaki Kunchi Festival.
The shrine was originally built in 1614 as a way to stop the spread of Christianity in the city. Consequently, Christians burnt it down in 1625, and in 1648, it was relocated to its current spot.
Three deities are enshrined here: Suwa-no-Okami (god for protection from evil), Morisaki-no-Okami (matchmaking), and Sumiyoshi-no-Okiami (God of safety at sea). It is especially a power spot for those wanting to secure a powerful love match.
Every October, the shrine hosts one of the most important events in Nagasaki: the Nagasaki Kunchi Festival. In this three-day celebration of the city’s main guardian deity (Chinzei Taisha), over 59 dance groups perform dashimono dances. There are also parades featuring mikoshi (portable floats). This event is recognized as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
How to get to Suwa Shrine
From Nagasaki Station, you can take the Nagasaki Electric Tram (Line 3 – Local Hotarujaya) straight to Suwa Shrine Station. The journey takes 18 minutes and costs ¥140. Once you have gotten off the tram stop, be prepared to walk up the 277 steps to get up to the main shrine.
