Hijiyama Shrine, Shinto shrine in Japan

Hijiyama Shrine is a small Shinto shrine in southern Hiroshima nestled at the base of a hill and surrounded by trees. The site features traditional Japanese architecture with a red torii gate, wooden structures, and stone lanterns, with the location carefully maintained despite its modest scale.

The shrine began as Ōban Daimyōjin in the Kōbandani valley south of Hijiyama. In 1646 it was moved into the grounds of the Shingon temple Shōrakuji as its guardian shrine, and during the Kanbun era (1661–1673) it was relocated to its present site. In 1868, during the separation of Shinto and Buddhism, it was renamed Hijiyama Shrine and Shōrakuji was abolished. The shrine was destroyed by the atomic bomb on 6 August 1945 and rebuilt in 1954.

The shrine is dedicated to Ōkuninushi, a deity associated with health and harmonious relationships in local faith. Visitors observe people offering prayers, leaving small tokens, and pausing for personal reflection within this modest place of worship.

The shrine grounds are open daily, with monthly rites on the 1st and 15th and a matchmaking prayer on the 5th. The autumn festival falls on the fourth Saturday and Sunday of October. Visitors should behave quietly and bow slightly before passing through the torii.

The shrine is connected to Hiroshima's 1945 bombing history, with parts completely destroyed by the blast. Yet its sacred objects were saved by being hidden away, illustrating the site's resilience and its community's determination to preserve their traditions.