Tochigi's Ohira-san Jinja Shrine

Enjoy a hike and a view and this beautiful rural shrine

Larry Knipfing May 18, 2013 - 1 min read

A place to write out your prayer for the gods to bless

Locals visit the shrine to pray for the health of their family members

The shrine is home to 42 gods and godesses

A pair of carved decorative wooden cranes and a duck

It was a fine, spring day, and many families came to pray, then left

Can you see the shrine's special horse inside?

View of the Kanto Plains from the shrine grounds

This very old shrine was established in the early Heian Period (794 to 1185) by priest Jikaku Daishi. It is the home of 42 gods and goddesses. You can drive to the shrine, or better yet, enjoy a leisurely hike up from nearby JR Ohira-shita Station on the JR Ryomo Line. Rest along the way for some delicious food while you look out over the entire Kanto Plain. The shrine is popular in the region with local people who come to pray for the health of their family members.

Larry Knipfing @larry.knipfing

Born on Long Island, New York in 1958, I have spent the last 30 years of my life living in Japan, and enjoying every minute of it! I especially love photography, and Japan is definitely one of the most beautiful places in the world to photograph! My other love is fiction writing and I have pub...