Ichinomiya (First Shrine of a Province)

Ichinomiya (literally 'first shrine') refers to the shrine of highest rank in each of Japan's historical provinces (kuni). The system originated during the Heian period, when newly appointed provincial governors (kokushi) would visit the shrines in their jurisdiction in order of importance. The first shrine visited — and thus the most important — became known as the ichinomiya, with subsequent shrines ranked as ninomiya (second), sannomiya (third), and so on.

From the 7th century to the early Meiji era, Japan was divided into 68 provinces, and each had (in theory) one ichinomiya. However, because no single authoritative document ever formalized the designations, there are cases where multiple shrines claim ichinomiya status in the same province, or where the designation shifted over time.

Ichinomiya shrines are almost invariably ancient, prestigious institutions with deep roots in their local communities. They include some of Japan's most important shrines: Kashima Jingu (Hitachi Province), Suwa Taisha (Shinano Province), and Izumo Taisha (Izumo Province), among many others. Today, the 'ichinomiya pilgrimage' — visiting all ichinomiya across Japan — has become a popular pursuit for devoted shrine visitors.