Map
Known as one of Japan's most potent power spots, this ancient shrine carries the legend that NASA astronauts reportedly observed a pillar of light rising from this site as seen from space. An extraordinary 188 deities are enshrined here.
Sacred Site Info
- Type
- Iwakura (sacred rock) and ancient ritual site
- Legend
- The site has such an old tradition of worship that it is mentioned in the Hitachi no Kuni Fudoki (721), and ritual remains from the late Jomon period have also been excavated. The whole of Mt. Oiwa is regarded as sacred ground, and 188 deities are enshrined here. It received the veneration of successive lords of the Mito domain and was said to be the foremost sacred place in the domain.
- Element
- Light, earth, water
History & Origins
A sacred site where rituals have been conducted since the Jomon period. Mt. Oiwa (530 m), looming behind the city of Hitachi, is the entire sacred body of the shrine. Deep traces of syncretic Buddhist-Shinto worship are woven throughout the mountain.
Highlights
Kabirejingu (the inner shrine), the massive sacred boulders at the summit (iwakura), three towering cedars estimated to be 600 years old, and the moss-draped approach radiate an intense spiritual presence.
Visitor Guide
The hiking course to the summit takes about 3 hours round trip. An early morning visit is strongly recommended. Sturdy footwear is essential for the mountain trails.
Best Season
Spring for fresh greenery and autumn for fall foliage.
Annual Events
- April
Shunki Reitaisai (Spring Grand Annual Festival)
A grand annual festival held in spring. Rituals in the traditional manner are performed amid the fresh greenery of the grounds.
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