Awashima Shrine
淡嶋神社
A shrine on the Kada seaside housing tens of thousands of dolls, with daruma-style figures and lucky cats filling the sanctuary inside and out. The March 3 doll-floating ritual is especially famous.
Awashima Shrine is the head shrine of all Awashima shrines across Japan and enshrines Sukunabikona, traditionally regarded as a protector of women and a shrine for praying for children and safe childbirth. Worshippers from across the country send in dolls they no longer need to be laid to rest here, so more than 20,000 hina dolls, lucky cats, tanuki, and other dolls are densely arranged inside and outside the shrine, creating a striking scene. Every year on March 3, the “Hinagashi” ritual sends the dolls out to sea on small white wooden boats. Admission to worship is free. It is about a 20-minute walk from Kada Station on the Nankai Line and can be combined with the Tomoshima ferry and fresh seafood at Kada Fishing Port.
Opening hours
All day (shrine office approx. 09:00–17:00)
Nearby sights
- Tomogashima
- Saikazaki & Bandokoro Garden
- Wakayama Castle
- Yosuien Garden
- Kishu Toshogu
- Wakayama Ramen (Ide Shoten)
- Wakanoura & Tamatsushima Shrine
- Hinokuma & Kunikakasu Shrines