is a Shinto shrine in the Hamochiiioka neighborhood of the city of Sado, Niigata.VisitSado.com, Watatsu Shrine ; retrieved 2012-11-6. It is the ichinomiya of former Sado Province."Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 2; retrieved 2012-3-13. The main festival of the shrine is held annually on the April 23.
Enshrined kami The primary kami enshrined at Watatsu Jinja are: , god shipbuilding and sailing.Kotodamaya.com, "Watatsu Jinja"; retrieved 2012-11-6.Pickens, Stuart D. B. (2004). Sourcebook in Shinto: Selected Documents, p. 372. , sister of Isonotakeru , sister of Isonotakeru
History Located on the island of Sado in the Sea of Japan, the history of Watatsu Shrine is uncertain, as the shrine was completely destroyed by a flood during the Kan'ei era (1624-1643) of the Edo Period.Sado Travel Guide, "Hamochi"; 佐渡市 観光課 観光振興係 (Sado Tourism Promotion), 佐渡一ノ宮度津神社 (Sado Ichinomiya Shrine); excerpt, 度津神社の由緒は「延喜式」神名帳（927年）に記載されている神社を式内社と言い、当時佐渡の国には九社あり; retrieved 2012-11-6. According to shrine tradition, it was founded by the semi-legendary Kofun period Emperor Chūai (reigned 192–200 AD). Its name appears in the Engishiki records compiled in 927 AD, but only as a minor shrine. It was destroyed by a flood in 1470, and rebuilt by the Honma clan, who were rulers of Sado island, in 1472. The shrine appears to have been destroyed repeatedly by floods in 1493, 1533 and 1593, and was merged in 1493 with a nearby Hachiman shrine. It is only mentioned as an ichinomiya in 1678 with the publication the by Shinto scholar . Following the Meiji restoration, with the establishment of State Shinto in 1872, the shrine was classified as a .
The enshrined kami is , the son of Susanoo-no-Mikoto, who is said to have taught people shipbuilding and how to use ships, and his two sisters and
Each year in late-April, horseback archery (yabusame) takes place at the branch shrine in the town of Hamochi. "Yabusame shinji," Encyclopedia of Shinto; retrieved 2012-11-6.
The shrine is located about 15 minutes by car from Ogi Port.
Gallery
See also List of Shinto shrines in Japan Ichinomiya
References
External links
Niigata Prefecture Kanko Navi Sado tourist information