Ochika Jinja

Ochika Jinja is a shrine with an intriguing name located in Minamikata, Saito. The unusual shrine name 'Ochika' is believed to derive from an old legend passed down in this area, and it carries a history of walking alongside the people in the naturally abundant foothills of Miyazaki. True to its name meaning 'southern direction,' this shrine blessed by the warm gifts of the south has been cherished as the guardian deity of the region and a place where people pray for the stability and wellbeing of agriculture and daily life. When one visits and pays respects at this quiet hillside shrine with a calm heart, surely one will feel the protection of the deity.