Keta Shrine, Shinto shrine in Hakui, Japan
Keta is a Shinto shrine in Hakui on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, recognized as the highest-ranking sanctuary of the former Noto Province. The compound includes prayer halls, gates, and storehouses surrounded by a dense forest of tall cedar trees that create a quiet setting along the pathways.
Several buildings date from the late 16th and 18th centuries, including a gate built in 1583 and a prayer hall reconstructed in 1787. These structures received official protected status as Important Cultural Properties during the 20th century.
Worshippers come here seeking blessings for relationships and personal healing, reflecting the deity's role in bringing people together. Visitors write their wishes on wooden tablets and hang them near the main halls, where they sway between the ancient cedar trees.
Local buses run from Hakui Station to the Ichinomiya stop, from which it takes about five minutes on foot to reach the entrance. The compound is open during daylight hours and the main pathways are easy to walk for most visitors, though some areas have steps.
Wooden votive plaques take the shape of hearts and arrows, reflecting the connection to requests for love. These particular shapes stand out from the rectangular plaques common at other shrines across Japan.
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