Kama-ura

Historical Footprints

The shrine’s name was once written using the characters for ‘stone’ and ‘god’, but in earlier land records such as the Unyoushi (1717), it was recorded using the characters for ‘stone’ and ‘above’. This raises the question of whether the original pronunciation was ‘Ishigami’ or ‘Isonokami’.

The enshrined deity, Futsunushi-tama-no-mikoto, appears as an envoy in the Kuniyuzuri (Land Relinquishing) myth. He is also regarded as an ancestral kami of the Isonokami (formerly Mononobe) clan, a Shinto group known for its strong opposition to Buddhism during the Kofun period (250–538).

Considering that Ishigami-jinja can also be found in both the neighboring bay of Shiotsu-ura and in the Saigo-cho area to the west, one can sense the strong influence of the Isonokami faith. Further examination of the Izumo Fudoki reveals the name Mononobe Omi, who served as an unranked district official in the Tatenui area. These connections across Kama-ura, Shiotsu, and as far as Saigo-cho likely reflect the growing influence of the Mononobe clan during that period.

Pilgrimage Route Guide

Located on the west side of Shiotsu-ura, Kama-ura also has a shrine of the same name, Ishigami-jinja. According to historical records, during the Muromachi period, the daimyo Ouchi Yoshitake fled here with his family. Such was his devotion that he contributed to the shrine’s development and worshipped here deeply.

In terms of size, it is described in the Izumo Fudoki as being ‘180 meters wide’.

Passing Kama Harbor, you will reach a steep hill where the road splits. Turning right toward the wind turbine area leads to Kozu Shrine overlooking Uppurui Bay. Turning left may make you question whether a road truly exists, but continuing on will eventually bring you to a winding path descending to the beach. From there, heading left for about 300 meters will take you to the Kita Hama Community Center, while heading right will again lead you to Kozu Shrine in Uppurui Bay.