A Dog-Friendly Drive to Kitsuki’s Hachiman Nada Shrine: Mystical Torii Gate Rising from the Sea

It was a cloudy Saturday at the end of May when my wife and I decided to take our French Bulldog Elmo on a drive to Hachiman Nada Shrine and Nada Beach in Kitsuki City.

I’d been curious about this place for a while after hearing about the torii gate standing in the sea. Everyone says the sunset view with the torii is absolutely magical… but of course, we got clouds instead. Still, this would be Elmo’s first time on a big sandy beach, so we figured why not give it a shot!

About Hachiman Nada Shrine and Nada Beach

Hachiman Nada Shrine is a historic shrine in Kitsuki City, Oita Prefecture. It has connections to the famous Usa Shrine and is known for displaying the imperial chrysanthemum crest, showing its ties to the imperial family. While not particularly large, the shrine has this pure, serene atmosphere that makes you feel the weight of its history.

But what really sets it apart is that torii gate floating in the sea! Located right by Nada Beach, the shrine creates this mystical feeling where you naturally sense the boundary between our world and the sacred realm, between land and sea.

Nada Beach itself is a beautiful sandy stretch that gets busy as a swimming spot in summer. The windbreak pine forest is well-maintained too, making it perfect for walks.

Access & Basic Information

Address	229 Nada, Kitsuki City, Oita 873-0032
Phone	0978-97-1050
Hours	Grounds always open
Parking	Available (free)
Official Site	Official Website

Exploring Hachiman Nada Shrine with Elmo

After parking in the first lot, the white torii gate immediately caught my eye. Then I looked toward the sea and… there it was! The torii standing in the water!

Wow, there really is a torii gate standing in the ocean! This looks amazing!

Though I have to say, it was way farther out than I expected. There’s no way you can walk close to it. If you’re into photography, definitely bring a telephoto lens. I’m kicking myself for not bringing mine!

We started by exploring the shrine grounds. The red worship hall really stands out.

Beautiful from the front, beautiful from a 45-degree angle — this building looks great from every direction.

Elmo was super curious about this new place. He was especially interested in the sacred trees, giving them a thorough sniff inspection. I was sweating bullets thinking “You better not be thinking about marking that tree…” but thankfully he behaved himself. Good boy, Elmo — you know when to be respectful!

Walking through the grounds, we found a spot with lots of omikuji fortune papers tied up.

There’s something peaceful about watching those paper fortunes flutter in the breeze.

Elmo’s Beach Adventure — Pure Joy!

After paying our respects, it was time for the beach!

Looking back from the shoreline, you can see the white torii gate on land in the distance.

Getting closer, this torii is pretty impressive too!

But Elmo couldn’t care less about torii gates at this point. I mean, there’s this huge sandy beach right in front of him!

This was his first time on such a wide beach, and he went absolutely nuts. Full-speed zoomies, tasting the salt water, walking along the waves… he was having the time of his life!

“Elmo! You’re gonna wear yourself out running like that!” But did he listen? Of course not. Well, when a dog’s that happy, you just let them be.

The face he made after tasting the salt water was priceless. Like “What IS this stuff?!” My wife and I were cracking up. But then he’d go right back and taste it again. Never learns, this one.

The Good and Not-So-Good

What We Loved

・The sea torii is genuinely mystical and stunning
・Huge beach where dogs can run to their heart’s content
・The shrine grounds have this pure, cleansing atmosphere
・Free parking that’s easy to access
・The pine windbreak forest is nice for walking too

Things to Note

・The sea torii is far — you really need a telephoto lens
・Cloudy days mean no famous sunset views
・Can get cold on windy days (though the windbreak helps)

Final Thoughts

Hachiman Nada Shrine and Nada Beach exceeded my expectations! That torii gate rising from the sea really is something special — definitely worth seeing.

Sure, we missed the sunset combo because of the clouds, but the view was still beautiful. Next time I’m definitely coming back on a clear evening to catch that famous scene.

For Elmo, his first big beach experience was clearly a hit. He was out cold in the car on the way home. Must have been one heck of an adventure for him.

If you want to visit a seaside shrine with your dog or let them run free on a wide beach, this spot is perfect. Just don’t forget that telephoto lens!