Ōtaki Ontake Shrine, Shinto shrine in Japan
The Ōtaki Ontake Shrine is a Shinto shrine located on the mountain above Otaki village. Its traditional wooden buildings sit beneath tall cypress trees and are reached by a moss-covered stone stairway of 67 steps.
The shrine was founded in 702 and later visited in 774 to support the spread of pilgrimage traditions. During the medieval period it was rebuilt several times, notably in 925 by Shirakawa no Shōshō Shigeyori, showing its growing importance.
The shrine is a place where people have expressed their hopes and gratitude for generations. Visitors bring small offerings and wooden figures to share their personal wishes with the mountain deities.
The climb is partly steep but manageable in comfortable shoes with water to drink. The route is marked and takes several hours, allowing you to go at your own pace and enjoy the views.
Wild monkeys live high in the cliff areas above the shrine and can be spotted during visits. These natural inhabitants of the mountain complement the spiritual setting and remind visitors that the mountain is a shared space for different forms of life.
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