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In March 2026, after walking around Cape Hyuga, I stopped by nearby Omi Shrine.
Omi Shrine is located near Cape Hyuga in Hyuga, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.
- Omi Shrine (Japanese only): https://oomijinja.com/
There is a parking lot right in front of the shrine, so I parked there and started exploring.
Once you pass through the torii gate and continue along the approach, the main shrine building and the sea come into view.
At the back of the shrine grounds, there is a place called “Ryujin no Tama.” It is said to be a remnant of ancient dragon-god worship.
Next to it is a large sazare-ishi rock formation.
Sazare-ishi
“Sazare-ishi” are small pebbles that, over a very long time, become fused into a large rock — a famous expression appearing in Japan’s national anthem, Kimigayo (Wikipedia).
You can walk down the rocks all the way to the shoreline.
On the east side of the shrine grounds (opposite the main shrine building after entering the approach), I heard there was a cave with a small shrine inside, so I kept walking.
It seems to be called Udo Shrine.
Near the cave entrance, you have to go down a narrow and steep staircase.
The cave itself is not very large, but the ceiling is fairly high, and there is a small shrine in the back. Being enshrined inside a seaside cave gives it a very distinctive atmosphere.
I only found out later that if you look toward the entrance from inside the cave, you can supposedly see a silhouette that looks like a “rising dragon.”
- Omi Shrine Ryujin no Tama / Rising Dragon (Japanese only): https://oomijinja.com/dragon-god.html
Looking at my photo of the shrine, I noticed there is even a polite sign that says, “Please turn around and look back at the entrance from here.” I completely missed it.
Tips
It is worth checking the best viewpoints at scenic spots in advance.
On the way back from the cave, I got a full view of Omi Shrine from an observation deck.
If you are sightseeing around Hyuga, I would definitely recommend stopping by Omi Shrine as well.
Gallery #
License: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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Change History #
- 2026/05/23: First version.
