Shirayama Hime Shrine, Shinto shrine in Japan
Shirayama Hime Shrine is an ancient shrine over 2,100 years old located on the southern side of Tsurugi and standing high on a river terrace. The grounds feature towering cedar, zelkova, and maple trees lining the approach paths, smaller shrines scattered throughout, and an 800-year-old cedar tree marked with a sacred rope near the hand-washing area.
The shrine was founded over 2,100 years ago and became a central place for the Hakusan Faith, where pilgrims honored the sacred mountain. The Mizuhiki Shinjin family has supported the shrine since the Heian Period, keeping these ancient traditions alive through generations.
The shrine honors Mount Hakusan and the goddess Kukuri-Hime, who is revered for her connection to relationships and family happiness. Visitors today come to pray for good fortune, buy blessed amulets, and participate in the hand-washing ritual before offering their prayers at the main altar.
You can reach the shrine easily by car with parking on the east and west sides, or by public transport from Tsurugi Station about 2 kilometers away. The walk from the station takes about 30 minutes, or you can rent a bicycle, take a taxi, or catch occasional buses that serve the area.
The shrine offers the rare Misogi ritual, a traditional Shinto water purification practice in a spring-fed pool where visitors wear special white garments and pray for spiritual and physical cleansing. This ritual is uncommon in Japan, making it a truly memorable spiritual experience for those who participate.
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