Heisenji Hakusan Jinja, Shinto shrine in Katsuyama, Japan
Heisenji Hakusan Jinja stands at the wooded foot of a sacred mountain in Katsuyama and displays traditional East Asian roof forms across its buildings. The site includes several halls and a wide area with tall trees casting shadows over the paths.
A monk founded the site in the eighth century, and over the following centuries the complex grew into a wide ensemble of shrines and temples. During the Meiji era many buildings were removed or merged, giving the place its present form.
The name Heisenji refers to a former temple that once formed part of a larger complex and still lives on in local memory. Pilgrims visit because the place marks the beginning of an old path winding up the mountain slopes.
Travelers can take the Echizen Railway to Katsuyama and then catch a community bus or taxi for the last stretch. The walk through the forest calls for comfortable shoes, and snow may lie on the ground in winter.
The main hall opens its doors only every 33 years, with the next opening scheduled for 2025. This tradition preserves a ritual that has changed little over the centuries.
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