[Himeji City] Receive power at Hiromine Shrine, which has a history of over 2,000 years and stands overlooking Himeji Castle.

• Table of Contents
• How to access “Hiromine Shrine”?
• Say your thanks at the main shrine, and make your own wishes behind the main shrine.
• Shinto rituals and festivals held throughout the year
• “Hiromine Shrine” and the tactician Kanbei
• Receive the power of “Hiromine Shrine”
• Useful information
• basic information

How to access “Hiromine Shrine”?

It takes about 20 minutes to ride the Shinki Bus from the north exit of Himeji Station, which is located between JR Himeji Station and Sanyo Himeji Station. Get off at the Himeji Keibajo-mae bus stop, walk north for about 3 minutes, take a taxi at the taxi company on the right, and walk along the mountain road for about 10 minutes, and you will arrive in front of the Otorii gate, the entrance to Hiromine Shrine. .

When the weather is nice, we recommend walking as well as hiking. From Himeji Keibajo-mae bus stop, walk north along the road for about 50 minutes. There's only one road, so you won't get lost.

If you are coming by car, there is a parking lot on the right just before the Otorii gate. Approximately 30 minutes from Hanada IC on the Bantan Toll Road.

Say your thanks at the main shrine, and make your own wishes behind the main shrine.

Zuishinmon, which enshrines the Minister of the Left and the Minister of the Right (an important cultural property designated by Himeji City), was rebuilt in 1697.

Pass through the large torii gate and proceed straight along the paved path. Perhaps because of the trees in the surrounding forest, the atmosphere changes, and the chirping of birds and the cool breeze are very pleasant.

It takes about 10 minutes to walk. I could see the Zuishinmon gate. Climb up the stone steps to reach the sacred area.

Hokyointo (nationally designated important cultural property) / total height 208.3cm, late Kamakura period

Halfway up the stone steps, just before the Zuishinmon gate, look to the far right and you will see the Hokyointo. Can you see that there are lotus petals on the base, a kakusakan on the base, and seeds representing the four Buddhas of the Womb World carved on the four sides of the pagoda center?

Please take a close look.

Worship hall rebuilt in 1626 (nationally designated important cultural property)

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude. Climb the stairs leading to the shrine and bow twice, clap twice and bow once. After worshiping, be sure to look at the worship hall and the main shrine in the back so as not to disrespect the gods.

Behind the main hall

You can make daily requests or special requests from the back of this main shrine.

Kyusei Pilgrimage (Ura-Mairi) is a unique way of worshiping at Hiromine Shrine, where you pray to the guardian deity of the Nine Stars using Onmyodo. Let me introduce you to the method of visiting the Nine Stars of Yin and Yang.

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"Nine Star Pilgrimage Set" From left: "Nine Star Prayer Card", "Nine Star Gohei", "Nine Star Amulet"

Receive a ``Kyusei Pilgrimage Set'' at the shrine office and write your wish on the back of the ``Kusei Prayer Card.''

Gunden Hachiman Shrine/Himeji City designated important cultural property

Go around the back from between the main shrine and Gunden Hachiman Shrine on the right side of the main shrine and stand in front of the hole of your destiny star.

Throw the nine star prayer tag into the hole along with the offering money.

After bowing, put the Nine Star prayer tag into the hole, bring your face close to the hole, and whisper your wish three times. And finally, take a bow.

Behind the worship hall, there are seven separate and final shrines (all important cultural properties designated by Himeji City), giving it a solemn atmosphere. Let's visit each shrine in turn with all our heart.

Shinto rituals and festivals held throughout the year

Items to express gratitude for autumn's harvest are lined up.

Be captivated by the graceful dance. I almost missed the photo opportunity

When you return from the back of the main shrine to the front, you can hear Gagaku music being played as offerings are made to the main shrine in gratitude for the autumn harvest. Surprisingly, I encountered a scene where a shrine maiden's dance was being dedicated, and I was so moved!

Various festivals are held at Hiromine Shrine throughout the year. Among them, the ``Otaue Festival'' and ``Prayer Festival,'' which are held in April, are designated as intangible folk cultural assets of Himeji City.

I would definitely like to see it.

Photo courtesy of Hiromine Shrine Otaue Festival (April 3rd) / An elegant festival that conveys Japanese tradition to the present day

Photo provided by: Hiromine Shrine Yakushi Festival (July 18th) / Enshrining festival of Yakushi Nyorai (an incarnation of Suhoson)

Photo courtesy of Hiromine Shrine Onbashira Festival (November 15th) / A fantastic and mysterious festival held in the evening

Ebisu Festival (January 10th) / Ebisu is a god of divine virtue and is enshrined at Ebisu Shrine (an important cultural property designated by Himeji City).

“Hiromine Shrine” and the tactician Kanbei

Kanbei Shrine (enshrined deity: Kuroda Kanbei) on the left side of the worship hall

It is said that his involvement with the Kuroda family began when Kuroda Kanbei's grandfather, Shigetaka, was unable to serve as a government official in Bizen Fukuoka and moved to Himeji, Banshu, where he met the head priest of Hiromine Shrine and visited there.

Eventually, the priests wanted to help Shigetaka, an intelligent and good-natured man who frequently visited the shrine, and offered to hand out the Kuroda family's secret eye drops as a thank you for visiting the shrine. The eye drops became very popular and sold well, and the Kuroda family became wealthy and were able to carry themselves like samurai families.

Even after that, the relationship with Hiromine Shrine continues.

Enshrined in the center of the altar are a replica of a red helmet associated with Kanbei, wisteria flowers (it is said that he gained courage from seeing the wisteria in full bloom while imprisoned at Arioka Castle), and a cross.

Kanbei, who gained knowledge at Hiromine Shrine and learned from the priests, is famous as a rare tactician.

Kanbei Shrine is enshrined as the ``God of Wisdom'' who bestows wisdom on people, the ``God of Forgiveness'' who leads people to happiness through prayer, and the ``God of Marital Harmony'' because he loved Mitsuhime all his life.

Receive the power of “Hiromine Shrine”

I received the stamps of ``Hiromine Shrine'' and ``Kanbei Shrine.''

There are a wide variety of amulet designs to choose from, but why not try receiving one that strikes your fancy? Every time I see the goshuin stamps and amulets, I feel like I'm receiving the power of Hiromine Shrine.

From Zuishinmon Gate, you can see the city of Himeji. I get excited just thinking about what ancient people thought when they looked at the scenery from here.

After leaving the main shrine, I found a planted ``Eyedrop Tree'' in the park on my way back to the Otorii. The trunk stretches straight into the sky, and the rich green leaves sway gently. Was it just my imagination that I felt like someone was waving at me and saying, ``Come again?''

(Writer Toshi/West Plan)

*This article is information as of October 2023. Prices include tax. Product contents and prices may change. Please check the official website for the latest information.

Useful information

Baggage storage service

Would you like to sightsee empty-handed?

basic information

Emperor Gozu Sohongu Hiromine Shrine

Address: 52 Hiromineyama, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture

Phone number: 079-288-4777

Time: 9:00-16:30 (office)

Regular holiday: No holidays

Access: Approximately 20 minutes by Shinki Bus from JR/Sanyo Electric Railway Himeji Station, get off at the Keibeijo-mae bus stop, and approximately 10 minutes by taxi from a nearby taxi company (if walking from Keibajo-mae bus stop) Approximately 50 minutes uphill) / Approximately 30 minutes from the Bantan Toll Road "Hanada IC" to the parking lot. Or about 35 minutes from Himeji Bypass "Himeji South Ramp" to the parking lot.

Parking: Available (30 spaces)

HP: http://www.hiromine-j.jp/

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