Japanese shrines

A Spiritual Sanctuary with Over 1,200 Years of History – Visiting Iwakiyama Shrine This is a travel blog from my journey around Japan, featuring a stop at the powerful spiritual site: Iwakiyama Shrine. Just across from Onsen Ryokan Nakano lies Iwakiyama Shrine, one of Hirosaki’s most renowned power spots. I paid a visit early in the morning, before other worshippers had arrived, to pray for a safe journey. Founded in 780 at the summit of Mount Iwaki, this shrine has long been revered as a guardian for agriculture and fishing, a deity of development for the Tsugaru region, and a ...

Kasama Inari Shrine is located in Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture. It was formerly classified as a village shrine and is now listed as a Beppyo Shrine under the Association of Shinto Shrines. It is also known as Kurumoshita Inari or Monsaburo Inari. The shrine has long been revered as a deity of abundant harvests and prosperous business. Over 3 million visitors come annually from all over Japan, not just the Kanto region. Kasama Inari Shrine is one of the Three Great Inari Shrines of Japan. The enshrined deity is Uka-no-Mitama-no-Kami, revered as the guardian of all industries and also worshipped ...

Kamigura Shrine (Auxiliary Shrine of Kumano Hayatama Taisha) Kamigura Shrine is considered the sacred site where the deities of Kumano first descended, even before they came to be worshiped as the three grand shrines of Kumano. Located atop a steep cliff known as Amano-Iwatate, visitors must climb over 500 rugged stone steps—an ancient pilgrimage path—to reach the shrine’s sacred object, the enormous Gotobiki Rock. Kumano Hayatama Taisha, built at the base of Mt. Kamikura, is the first to enshrine the deities in a newly constructed shrine hall, transitioning from a time when nature worship and primitive beliefs prevailed. For this ...