Hotaka Jinja

Hotaka Jinja is a shrine dedicated to Hotakaminomikoto, the sea deity, and serves as Shinshu's foremost shrine of the sea god. One might wonder why a shrine to a sea deity exists in the mountainous landlocked region of Shinshu, but this has deep significance. It is said that the Azumi clan, an ancient maritime people, brought worship of the sea deity to this land. Today, the shrine is widely venerated as a protector of traffic safety and is particularly famous for blessing automobiles. It is also the tutelary shrine of the Japanese Alps, watching over the safety of mountaineers.