amenominakanushi jinja ( hokushin jinja )

Tenminakanushi Shrine, also known as Hokushin Shrine, stands in Kokubu Shimizu, Kirishima City, Kagoshima Prefecture. The principal deity is Amenominakanushi-no-kami, the primordial deity who emerged first at the creation of heaven and earth. The name Hokushin, meaning North Star, reflects a deep connection with polestar veneration — for the polestar has long been revered as the center of the cosmos, a natural pairing with the deity who governs the universe's origins. While no clear records of the founding date remain, the people of Kirishima have continuously enshrined this deity over many generations, offering gratitude for nature's gifts and prayers for protection.