#260 Iwasaka Shinmei Jinja and Shirahito Jinja

Mima, Tokushima Ken

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Iwasaka Shinmei Jinja (磐境神明神社), located in Mima City, Tokushima Prefecture, is a fascinating and highly unusual Shinto shrine known for its unique stone-walled architecture. Unlike traditional Shinto shrines that center around a main wooden sanctuary building (honden), this site features a primitive open-air layout that draws visitors intrigued by history, mystery, and ancient spiritual traditions

Proponents of the Japanese-Jewish connection claim that the precise layout, dimensions, and styling of these stone altars heavily resemble ancient Israelite sacrificial altars or places of worship described in the Hebrew Bible.

According to shrine lore, its history dates back to the era of Emperor Ninken (late 5th century). A white-haired old man descended to this valley, declaring it a holy space.

（July, 2024)