* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Shiogama Shrine Museum
塩竈神社博物館
Overview
The Shiogama Shrine Museum, which opened in 1965, stores and displays the treasures and votive offerings of Shiogama Shrine, the ichinomiya of Mutsu Province, which is enshrined on Mount Ichimoriyama in Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture. At the shrine, Shiotsuchi no Ōjinokami is the principal deity enshrined in the Betsu-miya, with Takemikazuchi no kami enshrined in the Hidari-miya and Futsunushi no kami in the Migi-miya. The shrine has received veneration from the warlords of Ōshū. In the Edo period, successive lords of the Sendai domain donated estate lands, tachi swords, sacred horses and other offerings.
Among its swords, the museum holds two tachi designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan: “Rai Kunimitsu” and “Unshō”. Rai Kunimitsu was a smith of the Rai school in Yamashiro Province, active from the late Kamakura period into the Nanboku-chō period (first half of the 14th century).
The collection also includes the itomaki tachi dedicated by successive Date family lords, designated by Miyagi Prefecture, and the black-lacquered five-plate torso armour (gusoku) used by Date Tsunamura. Together, these holdings embody the intersection of military culture and shrine faith in the Tōhoku region. From the precincts, visitors can look out over Matsushima Bay.
It is about a 15-minute walk from Hon-Shiogama Station on the JR Senseki Line, making it an easy stop as an extension of sightseeing in Sendai.
Highlights
- Important Cultural Property tachi “Rai Kunimitsu” and “Unshō” — two nationally designated tachi transmitted to Shiogama Shrine
- Offerings to the ichinomiya of Mutsu Province — the itomaki tachi dedicated by successive Date family lords, designated by Miyagi Prefecture, and armour used by Date Tsunamura
- Treasures of Shiogama Shrine, the ichinomiya of Mutsu Province — heritage passed down at an ichinomiya with Shiotsuchi no Ōjinokami as principal deity, with Takemikazuchi no kami and Futsunushi no kami enshrined
- Unrivalled setting overlooking Matsushima Bay — the view of Matsushima, one of the Three Views of Japan, combined with appreciation of Important Cultural Property swords
- Easy to visit as an extension of Sendai sightseeing — about 15 minutes on foot from Hon-Shiogama Station on the JR Senseki Line
- Martial heritage linked to the Sendai Date family — a meeting point of military culture and shrine faith in the Ōshū region, closely tied to Date Masamune and the Sendai domain
* Opening hours and exhibitions are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.