Ōarai Isosaki Shrine is located in Ōarai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, situated on a coastal hill facing the Pacific Ocean in the eastern part of the town. It is a shrine with a long history and deep mythological roots. It is listed in the Engishiki Jinmyōchō as a Shikinai-sha (Myōjin Taisha), indicating its high historical status. In the former shrine ranking system, it held the rank of Kokuhei Chūsha, and today it is designated as a Beppyo Shrine under the Association of Shinto Shrines.
The shrine is closely linked in faith with Sakatsura Isosaki Shrine, located across the Naka River in Hitachinaka City. The two shrines share a legacy of ancient deity worship. According to mythology, the main deity enshrined at Ōarai Isosaki Shrine is Ōnamuchi no Mikoto (also known as Ōkuninushi no Mikoto), accompanied by the auxiliary deity Sukunahikona no Mikoto. These deities are revered as creators of the land of Japan. It is said that Ōnamuchi descended to Earth upon a rock in front of the shrine known as the "Kamiiso," making this sacred rock a powerful symbol of the shrine.
The shrine was damaged during medieval warfare but was later rebuilt in the early modern period under the patronage of Tokugawa Mitsukuni and Tokugawa Tsunaeda, lords of the Mito Domain, restoring its solemn appearance. The current main hall (honden), worship hall (haiden), and gate (suehiromon) are designated cultural properties of both Ibaraki Prefecture and Ōarai Town.
Among its features, the Kamiiso Torii, standing atop a rocky outcrop in the tidal zone, is especially famous. This iconic torii gate draws large numbers of visitors every New Year’s Day who come to witness the sunrise, making it a quintessential symbol where nature and faith are beautifully intertwined.
