Hokkaido Shrine
北海道神宮
Hokkaido · Sapporo
Independent Ichinomiya Development
Meishin-taisha
Yamato Shrine
大和神社
/ Yamato Jinja
Nijunisha
Admission
Free
Goshuin
300 yen
Access
10 min walk
Hours
Dawn to dusk
Overview
Oyamato Shrine (大和神社) in Tenri, Nara, is among Japan's oldest documented shrines, with its foundation legend recorded in both the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki in connection with Emperor Sujin's reign. It enshrines Yamato Okunitama-no-Kami, the tutelary deity of the Yamato land, who was separated from the imperial palace and given proper independent worship after plagues afflicted the land — one of the earliest acts of formal shrine religion in Japan. The shrine carries a unique modern connection: it served as the guardian shrine of the Imperial Japanese Navy battleship Yamato, and enshrines within its precincts the spirits of the 2,736 crew members who died when the ship was sunk on April 7, 1945.
History
927
Listed in the Engishiki as a Meishin-taisha of Yamato Province and among the Nijunisha.
1945
Spirits of 2,736 crew of battleship Yamato, sunk April 7, enshrined at the shrine.
Enshrined Deities
⛩
Blessings
Shrine Network
Practical Information
Location Coordinates
34.5692, 135.8383
Physical Address
306 Niizumi-cho, Tenri-shi, Nara
奈良県天理市新泉町306
Historical Province
Yamato
Access
Nagara Station (JR Sakurai Line)
10 min walk
Hours
Dawn to dusk
Visitor information last verified: 2026-04-06. Please check the official website for the latest details.
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Learn More About Shinto Shrines
Background reading for visitors and pilgrims.
Frequently Asked Questions
Information provided by Jinja DB Editorial Team
What is Yamato Shrine?
Oyamato Shrine (大和神社) in Tenri, Nara, is among Japan's oldest documented shrines, with its foundation legend recorded in both the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki in connection with Emperor Sujin's reign. It enshrines Yamato Okunitama-no-Kami, the tutelary deity of the Yamato land, who was separated from the imperial palace and given proper independent worship after plagues afflicted the land — one of the earliest acts of formal shrine religion in Japan. The shrine carries a unique modern connection: it served as the guardian shrine of the Imperial Japanese Navy battleship Yamato, and enshrines within its precincts the spirits of the 2,736 crew members who died when the ship was sunk on April 7, 1945.
Where is Yamato Shrine located?
Yamato Shrine is located in Tenri-shi, Nara. The full address is: 306 Niizumi-cho, Tenri-shi, Nara.