Toyotamahime no Mikoto
豊玉姫命
Daughter of the sea god, goddess of the ocean and safe childbirth
About
Toyotamahime is the beautiful daughter of the sea god Watatsumi who married Hoori when he visited the undersea palace. Their love story contains one of the most poignant taboo-breaking episodes in Japanese mythology: when she came ashore to give birth, she asked Hoori not to watch the delivery, but he peered through a gap and saw her transform into a great sea creature (wani).
Humiliated, Toyotamahime returned to the sea, sealing the border between land and water behind her. However, she did not abandon her child—she sent her younger sister Tamayorihime to serve as nursemaid. This mix of wounded pride and maternal devotion makes Toyotamahime one of the more emotionally complex figures in the mythology.
She is venerated as a deity of safe childbirth, and her story shares structural elements with folk tales of supernatural wives who depart when their true nature is revealed—a motif found across Japanese and East Asian traditions.
Mythology
Family Relationships
Parents
Siblings
Children
Shrines Dedicated to This Deity
| Shrine | Prefecture | Network Role |
|---|---|---|
| Aoshima Shrine 青島神社 | Miyazaki | |
| Kagoshima Shrine 鹿児島神宮 | Kagoshima | |
| Kaijin Shrine 海神神社 | Nagasaki |
Frequently Asked Questions
Information provided by Jinja DB Editorial Team
Who is Toyotamahime no Mikoto in Japanese mythology?
Toyotamahime no Mikoto (豊玉姫命) is Daughter of the sea god, goddess of the ocean and safe childbirth. This deity appears in Kojiki & Nihon Shoki and is enshrined at 3 shrines across Japan.
What shrines are dedicated to Toyotamahime no Mikoto?
There are 3 shrines in our database dedicated to Toyotamahime no Mikoto, including Aoshima Shrine, Kagoshima Shrine, Kaijin Shrine.
What myths involve Toyotamahime no Mikoto?
Toyotamahime no Mikoto appears in 1 myths including The Tale of the Sea Prince and the Mountain Prince (Umisachi-Yamasachi). These stories come from Kojiki & Nihon Shoki.