Susanoo no Mikoto
素戔嗚尊
God of storms, the sea, and martial valor; also revered as a deity of plague prevention
About
Susanoo is one of the three noble children born from Izanagi's purification rites, emerging when Izanagi washed his nose. Assigned dominion over the sea (or the netherworld, depending on the source), Susanoo instead wept for his deceased mother Izanami and caused great destruction, leading to his banishment from the heavenly realm.
Before his exile, Susanoo's rampages in heaven—destroying rice paddies, defiling sacred halls—drove his sister Amaterasu into the Rock Cave. After being expelled, however, he underwent a dramatic transformation. Descending to Izumo Province, he encountered an elderly couple weeping over their daughter Kushinadahime, who was to be devoured by the eight-headed serpent Yamata no Orochi. Through cunning and valor, Susanoo slew the monster, discovering the legendary sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi within its tail.
This dual nature—destructive storm god and heroic serpent-slayer—makes Susanoo one of the most complex figures in Japanese mythology. He is the progenitor of the Izumo divine lineage and is widely venerated at Yasaka Shrine (Gion) as a protector against pestilence.
Mythology
The Cave of the Sun Goddess (Ama-no-Iwato)
天岩戸（あまのいわと）
Kojiki & Nihon ShokiThe Slaying of the Eight-Headed Serpent (Yamata no Orochi)
八岐大蛇退治（やまたのおろち）
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 Trials of Okuninushi (Including the White Hare of Inaba)
大国主の試練（因幡の白兎を含む）
Kojiki & Nihon ShokiFamily Relationships
Parents
Children
Animal Messenger
Ox / Bull (牛)
In Gion faith traditions, the ox is associated with Susanoo (identified with Gozu Tenno). The legend of Somin Shorai, where Susanoo rewards a poor man with a protective talisman, features an ox-headed deity, linking cattle to Susanoo's identity as a plague-quelling god.
Shrines Dedicated to This Deity
| Shrine | Prefecture | Network Role |
|---|---|---|
| Hikawa Shrine (Omiya) 氷川神社 | Saitama | head |
| Nezu Shrine 根津神社 | Tokyo | independent |
| Kanasana Shrine 金鑚神社 | Saitama | independent |
| Hikawa Shrine (Kawagoe) 氷川神社（川越） | Saitama | branch |
| Akasaka Hikawa Shrine 赤坂氷川神社 | Tokyo | branch |
| Shinagawa Shrine 品川神社 | Tokyo | independent |
| Suga Shrine (Shinjuku) 須賀神社 | Tokyo | independent |
| Tsurugi Shrine 劔神社 | Fukui | |
| Atsuta Jingu 熱田神宮 | Aichi | |
| Tsushima Shrine 津島神社 | Aichi | Head shrine (souhonsha) |
| Yasaka Shrine 八坂神社 | Kyoto | Head shrine (souhonsha) |
| Kumano Taisha 熊野大社 | Shimane | head |
| Hinomisaki Shrine 日御碕神社 | Shimane | |
| Susa Shrine 須佐神社 | Shimane | |
| Yaegaki Shrine 八重垣神社 | Shimane | |
| Nunamae Shrine 沼名前神社 | Hiroshima | |
| Kushida Shrine 櫛田神社 | Fukuoka |
Frequently Asked Questions
Information provided by Jinja DB Editorial Team
Who is Susanoo no Mikoto in Japanese mythology?
Susanoo no Mikoto (素戔嗚尊) is God of storms, the sea, and martial valor; also revered as a deity of plague prevention. This deity appears in Kojiki & Nihon Shoki and is enshrined at 17 shrines across Japan.
What shrines are dedicated to Susanoo no Mikoto?
There are 17 shrines in our database dedicated to Susanoo no Mikoto, including Hikawa Shrine (Omiya), Nezu Shrine, Kanasana Shrine and more.
What myths involve Susanoo no Mikoto?
Susanoo no Mikoto appears in 4 myths including The Cave of the Sun Goddess (Ama-no-Iwato), The Slaying of the Eight-Headed Serpent (Yamata no Orochi), The Purification and Birth of the Three Noble Children (Misogi). These stories come from Kojiki & Nihon Shoki.