Hiraoka Shrine, Shinto shrine at Mount Ikoma foothills, Higashiōsaka, Japan
Hiraoka Shrine is a place of worship at the foothills of Mount Ikoma in Higashiōsaka, Japan, with a main hall built in the Kasuga style. The grounds spread across several levels connected by stone steps, wooden and stone torii gates, and smaller buildings set among forest.
Documents from the 10th century already mention this site as the principal shrine of the former Kawachi Province. Later, parts of its religious function were transferred to Kasuga in Nara, while the complex here continued.
The site takes its name from the Hiraoka family and sits on a hillside where visitors today see old trees and groves of plum. People visit the smaller buildings within the grounds to pray or hang wooden plaques with personal wishes.
The entrance sits near Hiraoka Station on the Kintetsu Nara Line, and access is free with parking available on site. The stone steps require some effort, so sturdy footwear helps, especially in wet weather or winter.
On December 23rd, a ritual called Owarai Shinji takes place, during which participants laugh ceremonially while renewing the rope decorations at the shrine. This laughter is meant to drive away misfortune and bring luck for the coming year.
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