熱田神宮は、三種の神器の一つである草薙神剣(くさなぎのみつるぎ)をお祀りする、日本でも特に格式の高い神社です。名古屋市の中心部に位置しながら、約19万平方メートルの広大な神域には楠の大木が茂り、荘厳な雰囲気を醸し出しています。
Atsuta Jingu enshrines Kusanagi no Tsurugi — one of the three sacred Imperial Regalia of Japan — making it one of the most prestigious shrines in the nation. Though located in central Nagoya, its 190,000-square-metre sacred grounds are filled with towering camphor trees, creating an atmosphere of deep solemnity.
三種の神器の一つが眠る ──
千九百年の歴史を誇る聖域。
One of the three Imperial Regalia rests here —
a sacred ground of 1,900 years.
草薙剣はもともとヤマトタケルノミコトが東征の際に用いた神剣で、その妃である宮簀媛命(みやすひめのみこと)がこの地にお祀りしたのが熱田神宮の始まりです。織田信長が桶狭間の戦いの前に戦勝祈願を行ったことでも知られ、信長塀が今も残ります。年間約650万人が訪れ、伊勢神宮に次ぐ格式を持つ神社として崇敬されています。
The Kusanagi sword was originally wielded by Yamato Takeru on his eastern campaign, and his consort Princess Miyazu enshrined it here — the origin of Atsuta Jingu. It is also known as the place where Oda Nobunaga prayed for victory before the Battle of Okehazama; his commemorative wall still stands. With approximately 6.5 million visitors annually, Atsuta is revered as second only to Ise Jingu in prestige.