A spiritual power revered by warriors and daimyos of the Warring States period

The allure of Tsushima Gozu Tennosha Shrine's god commanded the respect of not only commoners but respected warriors and daimyo feudal lords—including such big names as Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu—during the Warring States period when Japan was made up of many warring factions. Lord Oda Nobunaga worshipped the shrine's god as his own guardian and contributed to construction while Lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi donated the two-story gate, Lord Toyotomi Hideyori donated the South Gate, and Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu's fourth son and lord of Kiyosu Castle, Matsudaira Tadayoshi. donated the Main Hall (a prefectural cultural property).
Tsushima Jinja Shrine has been the focal point of fervent worship for eons. During the Edo period, people used to say "If you're going to Oise-san [one of Japan's highest-standing shrines], you must go to the Tsushima-san as well or else you only get half the job done." The shrine is so famous that its nicknames "Tsushima-san" and "Tenno-san" are recognized by many around Japan, making a pilgrimages to pray.

Owari Tsushima Tenno Festival: designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

Owari Tsushima Tenno Festival is considered Tsushima Jinja Shrine's biggest festival and one of Japan's three great river festivals. The event is a summer highlight, taking place on the fourth Saturday of July and the following day. Five Makiwara Boats laden with lanterns light up, playing Tsushima flutes as they row gracefully down the Tenno River from Maru Pond. The gently shaking lanterns reflect, shimmering off the water's surface, creating a mirror image of the elaborate Makiwara Boats like something straight out of a dreamlike scroll painting.
The following morning, during the Morning Festival, six Danjiri Boats, with the Ichie Boat at the lead, are decorated with Noh theater items, advancing as music plays. The Ichie Boat carries ten men with cloth banner-adorned pikes, who leap into the water, swim to the shore, and run to the shrine alter to offer the pikes in a heroic scene.