During the Age of Provincial Wars, Nagasaki became an ecclesiastical property of the Society of Jesus, and shrines of Suwa, Morisaki, and Sumiyoshi deities in Nagasaki went out of existence. The history of Suwa Shrine began when Katakiyo Aoki, the first to become the chief priest of this shrine, built it in 1625 in Nishiyamago Maruyama (current location of Matsunomori Shrine) to bring together these deities and started worshipping them as guardian deities of Nagasaki.
In 1648, the shrine obtained territories authorized by the Tokugawa shogunate and built an unequaled, majestic shrine in the present location.
Most of the shrine burned down due to a contingent fire disaster in 1857, but a shrine even better than the one before was reconstructed in approximately 10 years’ time by Emperor Komei's grace in 1869. Furthermore, additional constructions took place to become what it is now, in commemoration of 360th and 370th anniversaries of enshrinement in 1984 and 1994 respectively.
The spectacular and exotic festival held at this shrine (on October 7th, 8th, and 9th, called Nagasaki Kunchi) is considered one of the three major festivals of Japan and designated as a significant intangible folk cultural asset.
| Name of the shrine | Chinzei Grand Shrine Suwa Shrine |
|---|---|
| Location | 18-15 Kaminishiyama-machi, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki |
| phone | 095-824-0445 |
| Admission | Free of charge |
| Access | [When taking a street car] Get off at “Suwa Jinja” and go through an underpass to reach the approach to the shrine. |
The spirit of god dwells in talismans and charms.
Enshrine talismans at home altars and carry charms to receive god’s blessings.
Return talismans and charms after a year to the shrine where they were purchased or to a nearby shrine.
| Price | 1,000 yen |
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| Price | 800 yen Charm for physical safety |
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| Price | 800 yen Charm for good health |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Charm for safe travel |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Charm with Oriental Zodiac sign (with a strap) |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Charm for well-being (with a strap) |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Charm for women (with a strap) |
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| Price | 800 yen Talisman of Ise Jingu Naiku |
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| Price | 800 yen Talisman of Suwa Jinja Shrine |
| Price | 800 yen Talisman for God of Fire |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Talisman for success in business, traffic safety, safety at sea, and success in fishing |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Talisman for success in business (in plastic cover) and removal of calamities related to ill-fated directions |
| Price | 800 yen Talisman of Chinzei Grand Shrine and Suwa Shrine |
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| Price | 800 yen Talisman for God of Inari (success in business) |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Charm for traffic safety in a shape of a sword tip |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Charm for traffic safety with bells (Large) |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Charm for traffic safety with Yuzen dyeing |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Charm for traffic safety with the shrine crest (leaf motif of paper mulberry) (with a strap) |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Mini charm for traffic safety (with a strap) |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Charm for traffic safety with Hello Kitty |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Card-shaped charm for traffic safety |
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| Price | 500 yen Sticker charm for traffic safety |
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| Price | 3,000 yen Bracelet charm for luck in money (tiger-eye) |
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| Price | 3,000 yen Bracelet charm for good health (crystal) |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Frog charm for good luck with a strap |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Frog charm for good luck |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Charm for luck in business yen Keep it in your wallet or business card holder. |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Charm with a horseback archery motif |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Charm for good fortune with the shrine crest (leaf motif of paper mulberry) and bell |
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| Price | 800 yen Charm for good luck in a shape of a drawstring pouch |
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| Price | 800 yen Charm in a shape of a school bag |
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| Price | 800 yen Charm for success in entrance exams |
| Price | 1,000 yen Charm for victory |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Otafuku (spreader of happiness) charm for matchmaking All smiles when out, in control when at home. I bring you happiness |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Charm for matchmaking Keep this with you at all times to bring good luck in matchmaking |
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| Price | 800 yen Charm with Hello Kitty |
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| Price | 800 yen Charm with Rilakkuma |
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| Price | 1,000 yen Wooden votive tablet for matchmaking |
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| Price | 500 yen Wooden votive tablet for prayers |
| Price | 500 yen Wooden votive tablet for academic achievement |
| Price | 500 yen Wooden votive tablet for good health |
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| Price | 5,000 yen Home altar (large) |
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| Price | 3,000 yen Home altar (small) |
| Price | 500 yen Sacred sake |
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[Fortune slips in English]
The first English fortune slips made in Japan
They were made in 1914 by Kohachiro Kugimoto, an English teacher at pre-World WarⅡ Nagasaki Middle School.
There are 10 kinds of fortune slips.
| 大吉 | Best Luck |
|---|---|
| 吉 | Good Luck |
| 中吉 | Average Good Luck |
| 小吉 | Average Luck |
| 半吉 | Half Luck |
| 末吉 | Lucky In THe End |
| 災い転じて福 | Bad Luck But Turns Good |
| 半凶 | Partly Bad Luck |
| 凶 | Bad Luck |
| 大凶 | Worst |
50 types of fortune tellings are available.
People who are not confident with their English skills are welcome to try them, too, as Japanese translation is available at the reception.