Miya River
The clear waters of the Miya River spring from the top of sacred Mt. Hongu, the place where the kami Okuninushi no Mikoto was first worshipped. The water of the Miya River is so clean that tea can be made with it. Also known as “the river that gives life,” the river nourishes farmland and fishing areas on its way to the Pacific Ocean.
Okuni Jinja Shrine is one of the relatively rare shrines in Japan located adjacent to a river. Water plays an important role of purification in Shinto, and the priests at Okuni conduct rituals in the river on the sixth of every month. All are welcome to observe.
The river is also a place for rest and relaxation, and the Japanese maples and other deciduous trees lining the riverbank turn from a deep, verdant green to a variety of spectacular autumnal colors. On sunny days, families often play together in the shallow waters, and people come to stroll along the riverbanks and picnic under the trees.