One of the most defining, iconic shrines in Japan. Voted the most beautiful scenery by certain journals. It was quiet, it was spacious, it was verdant green, crispy blue, and glistening red. It was a drive from your previous or next stop. It was a once in a life time visit. Took a little stroll. Got a lucky charm. Said a little prayer. It was a tranquil moment of our life.
Frequently Asked Questions
The complex consists of Jogu (Upper Shrine), Chugu (Middle Shrine), and Gegu (Lower Shrine), dedicated to different manifestations of Hachiman and associated deities.
The shrine sells omamori (protective amulets), ema (prayer plaques), and various religious items for worshippers.
The Reitaisai Grand Festival in October is the most significant annual event, featuring processions, traditional performances, and rituals.
Nearby Oita Prefecture attractions include Beppu hot spring resort, Yufuin onsen town, and coastal scenery along the Kunisaki Peninsula.
Its a shrine with sprawling grounds comprising temples, ponds and fixtures.
The environment is quiet and peaceful. Our guide shared that couting couples would come to the shrine for their dates too. We spent around 1-1/2 hours walking around and exploring after seeing the main shrine and camphor tree.
This is a very beautiful Shinto shrine. I would argue the most beautiful I've ever been to.
This shrine is ranked 2nd in importance after Ise Jingu near Nagoya. I've visited there as well, however, I'd rate this as more physically beautiful. Both the nature and the architecture are stunning.
The main shrine itself was under construction, though everywhere else was still visible. A number of sights stood out to me, such as the covered bridge over the river , the bridges in the pond, and the huge torii gates.
I noticed an interesting tradition here that stood out to me. You clap four times while praying, unlike the usual two. There's also a spot with 3 shrines lined up in order left to right, and the tradition is to pray at each one in order.
