飯道神社, Shinto shrine in Japan
Iidō Shrine stands on Mount Iidō (664 m) in Kōka, Shiga Prefecture. Its main hall, rebuilt in 1649, is a wooden irimoya-zukuri structure with a cypress-bark roof, designated an Important Cultural Property in 1925. The shrine keeps 1,038 hanging Buddhist plaques (kakebotoke), the oldest dated 1252.
The shrine was founded during the early Nara period, making it an ancient site. It was damaged during a war but was rebuilt in the 1650s and later restored in the 1970s to preserve its original appearance.
The shrine brings together local people for festivals and ceremonies throughout the year, serving as a center for community traditions passed down through generations. Visitors move through the space with respect, offering coins and flowers while bowing before the main building, reflecting practices deeply rooted in daily life.
To reach the shrine, walk up the mountain from the base on marked paths that require sturdy footwear, though driving partway up is also possible. Entry is free and parking is available, making it easy to visit without detailed planning.
The whole of Mount Iidō is granite, and its slopes hold named rock formations such as the Nishi-nozoki Iwa, the Ari-no-tōwatashi and the Kanekake Iwa. Since 1951 the revived Iidō-san Gyōja-kō ascetic confraternity has used these crags as a training ground. Near the summit lie the ruins of Iidō-ji, a practitioner's hall, a Benzaiten hall and the grave of the monk Mokujiki Shōni.
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