Kamamori Shrine

The Kamamori Shrine is a michi shrine located in the town of Kamamori, Nagato, located north of Tenzan Mountain. One of the oldest Michi shrines, the Kamamori Shrine is the most important shrine in the Kamamori Path of Michi, which in the modern day has diverged into Reform Kamamori and Orthodox Kamamori Paths. The Kamamori Shrine has played a prominent role in the development of Michi in Yamatai, and what is today considered Kamamoriism was representative of Michi for a long period of the religion's history. According to tradition, the Kamamori Shrine was founded by Empress Himiko, the first Empress of Yamatai and a central religious figure in the Michi faith.

The Kamamori Shrine is also the site of the Grand Temple, which is the meeting place for the Kannushi Conclave and its leader, the Grand Kannushi. The Grand Kannushi and the Conclave are the central governing authority of Orthodox Kamamoriism. While they do not follow the authority of the Grand Kannushi and Kannushi Conclave, Reform Kamamorists still consider the Kamamori Shrine the holiest site in their religion and aim to make the pilgrimage to the Shrine at least once in their lives.

For both sects of Kamamoriism, the Kamamori Shrine is the terminus of the Path of Koremochi pilgrimage route, which follows the path that the monk Koremochi took across Harukuni and Akitsukuni to spread the word of the Kamamori Shrine's foundation, founding 45 Michi shrines along the way. Pilgrims start at Koremochi's grave in the Nikkei Shrine (日啓) on the slopes of Mount Aozora, where he received the gratitude of Amaterasu Herself and was elevated into a Kami, and follow his journey backwards to all 45 shrines until they arrive at the Kamamori Shrine.

Originally carried out by pilgrims on foot, the path took several months to years to complete and was only attempted by the most devoted adherents of the Michi faith. In modern times, individual shrines occasionally schedule bus tours for their members to complete their pilgrimage. Nonetheless, some devoted few still attempt to complete the journey on foot, often in traditional garb and relying on alms along the way. Originally, all who completed the pilgrimage would have their names carved on the Three Pilgrims Pillars within the Western Heavenly Hall within the Kamamori Shrine complex. Due to the high volume of pilgrims in the modern day, the Shrine now records the names of those who complete the pilgrimage on a web page that is displayed on a screen in the Western Heavenly Hall adjacent to the Three Pilgrims Pillars.