Located at the base of the Kunisaki Peninsula, the Usa Shrine in Kyushu Island acts as the head shrine among 40,000 branches in Japan dedicated to the Shinto God of Archery and War known as Hachiman. The Divine deity is heavily associated with the legendary Emperor Ojin of Japan. Built over 1300 years ago, the Usa Shrine is a major contributing factor in the formation of the mountain worship religion, special in the area around the Kunisaki Peninsula known as Rokugo Manzan culture. The shrine consists of many structures including a treasure hall, ceremonial grounds, several ponds separated by an upper and bottom complex of the area. The main hall of Usa Shrine is designated as a National Treasure of Japan with the unique style of Hachiman zukuri architectural building style, which is applied by combining roofs of two different structures to form into one large building. Local shops provide visitors with souvenirs by the road leading up to the north entrance. The treasure hall houses cultural artifacts related to the shrine many of which are designated as national treasures. Around 150 festivals are celebrated at this shrine throughout the year including seasonal celebrations for luck and harvest. The Usa Mikoshi Festival or Summer Festival is one of the largest festivals celebrated at this location which consists of mikoshi floats attracting thousands of locals and foreign visitors to attend each year.
