Konpira-san, Kagawa

A shinto shrine up a very scenic mountain in Shikoku

Ben Beechey Jul 24, 2012 - 1 min read

<p>Konpira-san shrine sits at the top of the stunningly beautiful Mount Zozu.</p>

<p>To reach the top you need to climb a long succession of steps, so don't forget to bring some comfortable footwear!</p>

<p>Detail on the roof of one of the shrines many buildings</p>

<p>The view from the top of the mountain is great, allowing you to look out over Kagawa.</p>

<p>A shinto priest within the grounds of Konpira-san</p>

<p>A woman takes five minutes to say a prayer at Konpira-san.</p>

<p>More interesting detail within the grounds of the shrine</p>

<p>Shinto priests sell ema plaques (wooden plaques onto which people write their prayer) to the public.</p>

<p>Ema plaques on display; they are written on by visitors to the shrine detailing their wishes and plans for the future.</p>

<p>You can also find restaurants serving good quality food, with even greater views near the top of the mountain.</p>

<p>The path back down has many stones with information about the shrine and people who have donated to it over the years inscribed into them.</p>

<p>Once you reach the bottom you can check out the gift shops for souvenirs.</p>

<p>Kagawa is famous for its Udon noodles, don't forget to give them a try!</p>

Konpira-san is a Shinto shrine that dates back to the 1st century, in the town of Kotohira in Kagawa, Shikoku. It stands at over 500m above sea level, halfway up Mount Zozu. To reach the shrine you have to climb a long path, which comprises of over 1,300 steps. On the way to the top there is a sake museum, various shops selling souvenirs, and there are lots of stones in which the names of donators to the shrine are carved in Japanese. Once you reach the top there are places to rest and eat. The views from the top are great too.

More info

Find out more about Konpirasan (Kotohira-gu).

Ben Beechey @ben.beechey

I moved to Japan in late 2007 and lived in the beautiful mountainous setting of Nagano-ken for two very fun years. Although the scenery in Nagano was stunning and the snowboarding conditions second to none, I decided to try life in the fast lane and moved to Tokyo in 2009. I have been in Tokyo si...