Suwa Shrine (Nagasaki)

Suwa Shrine (諏訪神社, suwa jinja) is the major Shinto shrine of Nagasaki, Japan, and one of the major locations of the Nagasaki Kunchi, originally celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month and now celebrated on the fixed dates of October 7 to October 9. It is located in the northern part of the city, on the slopes of Mount Tamazono, and features a 277-step stone staircase leading up the mountain to the various buildings that comprise the shrine.

Suwa Shrine was established as a way of stopping and reverting the conversion to Christianity that was taking place in Nagasaki. In modern times, it remains an important and successful center of the community.

The shrine in Nagasaki is one of many Suwa shrines, all of which are dedicated to Suwa-no-Kami, a kami of valor and duty, and are linked with Suwa Taisha, the head shrine of Suwa-no-Kami worship. Two other kami are also enshrined at Suwa Shrine, all three of which are celebrated during Kunchi.