An Invitation to Evening Worship The Tale of the Kusanagi no Tsurugi

Have you ever visited a shrine at night? How about Atsuta Jingu, which is open 24 hours a day?

Even today, Ise Jingu, one of the most famous shrines in Japan, holds important festivals during the night. Why? It’s because there’s something sacred about shrines that you can only find in the evening. You might not be able to see gods, but when night falls, your senses heighten, allowing you to sense things you might not have been able to otherwise. For example, while enjoying a festival—a type of ritual—you might hear a strange sound from within the sacred darkness that you wouldn’t notice otherwise. Could it be a message from the gods?

Some people don’t believe in the special powers of a shrine at night. They may say things like, “Why pray at night if God isn’t even there,” or “It’s not safe to visit a shrine at night -- that’s when the monsters come out.” But that’s not the case, at least at Atsuta Jingu. That’s why it’s open 24 hours a day -- to welcome anyone at any time.

This guide is designed so you can use it either during the day or at night, but we highly recommend you try it out at night as well. If you completely surrender to the possibilities, this experience can become something you’ve never dreamed of.

*This guide was created based on documents and interviews and includes some interpretation done by our team at ON THE TRIP. Theories differ between experts, so try to find out what happened on your travels!

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