Iide-san-jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Iide-san-jinja is a small Shinto shrine located on the summit of Mount Iide, a peak over 2,000 meters high that spans three prefectures. The structure features simple wooden buildings with gently curved roofs and sits amid a landscape of rolling hills and distant peaks.
The shrine has served as a place of worship for many generations. The mountain itself has been central to local traditions for centuries, visited by farmers and villagers seeking protection for their harvests and safe passage.
The shrine is dedicated to Mount Iide, whose name means 'rice mountain' in the local language. Local people regard this place as sacred and use it to honor the mountain spirits and request protection for their harvests and journeys.
Visitors should come early in the morning or late afternoon when light makes the wooden structures glow warmly. Most climbers arrive during daylight hours, particularly in spring and fall when weather is milder and trails are more accessible.
The border between Fukushima and Niigata prefectures runs across the mountain range and actually passes through the shrine itself, creating an unusual administrative boundary. This reminds visitors how geography can shape administrative divisions more powerfully than simple lines on a map.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
