Tsukubasan Shrine, Shinto shrine on Mount Tsukuba, Japan
Tsukubasan Shrine is a Shinto shrine on Mount Tsukuba in Japan, with buildings spread across both peaks and connected by stairs and paths. The main hall stands on the western summit, while a smaller shrine marks the eastern peak, and between them lie forests and open rock formations.
The complex began more than 1,500 years ago as a site of mountain worship before Buddhist elements were added during medieval times. In the 17th century, many buildings were reconstructed after destruction by fire and war, and the structure took its current form.
The name comes from the mountain where both peaks can be seen on clear days, and pilgrims come here to pray at sacred rocks and old trees. Many visitors touch the stones at the shrine, which are believed to bring luck in marriage and harmony between genders.
The walk up takes about two hours from the valley station and passes through forests with marked trails that can become slippery when wet. Once at the top, visitors find rest areas and small stalls selling drinks and light snacks.
The grounds include more than a hundred smaller shrines scattered through the forests and on rock ledges, often reachable only by narrow paths. Some of these subsidiary shrines are so small they consist of just a single stone altar tucked between roots and moss.
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