Hotaka Jinja

Map

History & Origins

It is said to have been founded by the Azumi people when they settled in Shinano, and its first appearance in historical records is in 859 (the 1st year of Jogan). The main deity, Hotakami no Mikoto, is the ancestral deity of the Azumi people and is regarded as a guardian of sea travel. The Okumiya (inner shrine) stands on the shore of Myojin Pond in Kamikochi, and the Minemiya (peak shrine) on the summit of Mt. Okuhotaka in the Northern Alps.

Highlights

The 'Ofune Matsuri' (Boat Festival), held on September 26 and 27 each year, is especially famous, a dreamlike ritual in which a procession of boats crosses the pond in the grounds, evoking the age of myth. Besides the main shrine, there are three sites: the Okumiya on the shore of Myojin Pond in Kamikochi and the Minemiya on the summit of Mt. Okuhotaka.

Visitor Guide

It is about a 5-minute walk from Hotaka Station on the JR Oito Line, with good access, making it a convenient base for sightseeing in Azumino. The Okumiya (Kamikochi, Myojin Pond) is accessible only from late April to mid-November.

Best Season

The September Ofune Matsuri is the peak of liveliness at the shrine. From spring to early summer, you can enjoy it together with Alpine scenery such as the wasabi fields.

Blessings

Annual Events

• March

  Hosha-sai (Archery Festival)

  A rite held on March 17 in which the fortunes of the year are divined by shooting arrows. It is a traditional divination festival handed down since ancient times.

• September

  Mifune Matsuri (Boat Festival)

  A dreamlike rite held on September 26 and 27, in which a procession of boats crosses the pond. It is the largest annual festival of Hotaka Jinja and draws many worshippers.

• October

  Okumiya Reisai (Inner Shrine Annual Festival)

  A festival held on October 8 at the inner shrine on the shore of Myojin Pond in Kamikochi. It is a solemn rite fitting a place of mountain worship.

Travel Plan

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