Amaterasu Omikami
天照大御神
Goddess of the sun, supreme deity of the Shinto pantheon, and ancestral kami of the Imperial house
About
Alternate honorific form of the entry for Amaterasu. Amaterasu Omikami (天照大御神) is the radiant sun goddess at the apex of the Shinto divine hierarchy. Born from Izanagi's left eye during purification rites, she governs the High Celestial Plain (Takamagahara) and is the divine ancestor of the Imperial line. See also the canonical entry for amaterasu.
Mythology
The Cave of the Sun Goddess (Ama-no-Iwato)
天岩戸（あまのいわと）
Kojiki & Nihon ShokiThe Purification and Birth of the Three Noble Children (Misogi)
禊と三貴子の誕生（みそぎ）
Kojiki & Nihon ShokiThe Descent of the Heavenly Grandson (Tenson Korin)
天孫降臨（てんそんこうりん）
Kojiki & Nihon ShokiThe Cession of the Land (Kuniyuzuri)
国譲り（くにゆずり）
Kojiki & Nihon ShokiFamily Relationships
Parents
Children
Animal Messenger
Rooster (Chicken) (鶏)
Roosters heralded dawn and played a role in the Ama-no-Iwato myth.
Shrines Dedicated to This Deity
| Shrine | Prefecture | Network Role |
|---|---|---|
| Yokote Shrine 横手神社 | Akita | head |
| Oyama Shrine (Tateyama) 雄山神社 | Toyama | |
| Gosha Shrine & Suwa Shrine (Hamamatsu) 五社神社・諏訪神社 | Shizuoka |
Frequently Asked Questions
Information provided by Jinja DB Editorial Team
Who is Amaterasu Omikami in Japanese mythology?
Amaterasu Omikami (天照大御神) is Goddess of the sun, supreme deity of the Shinto pantheon, and ancestral kami of the Imperial house. This deity appears in Kojiki & Nihon Shoki and is enshrined at 3 shrines across Japan.
What shrines are dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami?
There are 3 shrines in our database dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, including Yokote Shrine, Oyama Shrine (Tateyama), Gosha Shrine & Suwa Shrine (Hamamatsu).
What myths involve Amaterasu Omikami?
Amaterasu Omikami appears in 4 myths including The Cave of the Sun Goddess (Ama-no-Iwato), The Purification and Birth of the Three Noble Children (Misogi), The Descent of the Heavenly Grandson (Tenson Korin). These stories come from Kojiki & Nihon Shoki.