Mishima Shrine sits in the urban center of Shikokuchūō, an ancient shrine of the Uma region not far from the Seto Inland Sea. According to shrine tradition, it was founded in 720, the fourth year of the Yōrō era. The local name Iyo-Mishima comes from this shrine. It enshrines the mountain god Ōyamatsumi and has long drawn the devotion of the local community.
In the early Nara period, Ochi Tamasumi was appointed governor of Uma District. He set up his residence at Kamigashiwa (now Kamigashiwa-chō in Shikokuchūō) and ruled the district from there. For years he made monthly pilgrimages to Ōyamatsumi Shrine on the island of Ōmishima, but as he grew older the journey became too much. On the 23rd day of the 8th lunar month in 720, the fourth year of the Yōrō era, he formally invited the spirit of Ōyamatsumi to be enshrined here.
According to the shrine's records, this is how Mishima Shrine began. From then on, the area was known as Mishima, and later as Iyo-Mishima. The name of the former Iyo-Mishima City also traces back to this shrine.
The principal deity, Ōyamatsumi, is known as the god of mountains and has long been revered as a guardian of the sea as well. People who work in the forests, on the land, and at sea have worshipped him for the peace of their daily lives. Sharing the main hall are the water deity Takaokami, along with Kamitsuhime, Shimotsuhime, and the thunder god Raijin.
The oldest structure on the precincts is the Zuijinmon Gate, built in 1821, the fourth year of the Bunsei era. In 1962, it was designated a cultural property of the former Iyo-Mishima City, together with the original main hall. It still stands at the entrance to the approach, looking much as it did two centuries ago.
The largest event of the year is the annual grand festival in June, held each year on the Saturday and Sunday closest to June 15th. Parishioners and devotees gather to pray for the safety of the community, the prosperity of local industries, and the well-being of future generations.
The gate that appears in the wedding scene in Episode 1 of Nippon Sangoku is modeled on the Zuijinmon Gate here. Since the manga's anime adaptation began airing in 2026, the shrine has drawn a new wave of younger fans visiting on pilgrimages to the series' locations.
The closest station is Iyo-Mishima on the JR Yosan Line, and the shrine is within walking distance in the heart of town. The surrounding streets preserve the old townscape of the former Iyo-Mishima area, making it easy to combine a visit with a stroll through the neighborhood.
〒799-0404 1-chōme-1-53 Mishimamiyagawa, Shikokuchuo, Ehime
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Open grounds with no fixed opening hours.
Goshuin (shrine seals) are available at the shrine office beside the main hall.
Hours verified June 2026
Hours may have changed. Please confirm before visiting.
The anime, manga, and games that feature Mishima Shrine in real life.
A travel guide to the real-world locations of Yamato, the western-Japan nation in the manga and anime Nippon Sangoku. It tours the actual spots in Ehime, Osaka, Fukui, and Aichi that became settings in the story, with the scenes they inspired, what to see on site, and how to reach them from abroad.
The Ehime Prefectural Shrine Agency's listing, with the shrine's history, deities, and festivals.
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