Heisenji Hakusan Shrine — Attraction in Katsuyama

Heisenji Hakusan Shrine is located in north-east of Katsuyama City. This area is a part of Hakusan National Park. It was established by Saint Taicho in 717 as a home of Hakusan Cult in Echizen Region. Hakusan Cult developed expended across regions extending to Ishikawa prefecture and Gifu Prefecture as well as Fukui Prefecture where we can see a huge mountain of Hakusan towering over these 3 prefectures. Its lofty mountain peak reaching the height of 2,702 meters above the sea level, Mt. Hakusan is one of the three major mountain peaks along with Mt. Fuji and Mt. Tachiyama in Japan. Japan developed this unique tradition of making worship to those impressive mountain peaks as mighty creation of a God. Although this sacred area once had more than 8,000 force of monk soldiers in its peak time and it was the biggest force among religious organizations in Japan, the entire zone of the cult in this mountain was burned town in 1574 by a raid of outsiders. The latest excavation unearthed some of the historical remains of residence belonged to the monk soldiers. The entire ground of the precincts is covered in thick moss and the path to the shrine is considered one of the 100 most beautiful view of a path in Japan. As you approach toward the sacred main hall of the shrine there are some places where two large rock standing on each side of the path. Those rocks are called boundary rocks to mark the sacred boundary. It is believed that you can purify your body and soul as you cross each boundaries in the sacred ground. You might sense the different atmosphere as you cross the boundary.

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Heisenji Hakusan Shrine is located in Katsuyama City, Fukui Prefecture. Once, it was home to one of Japan’s largest religious cities. The site has a long history, said to have been founded in 717 by the Buddhist monk Taichō. It later prospered as a central temple for the syncretic worship of Hakusan. At its peak in the late Muromachi period, the area housed 6,000 living quarters, fortified with stone walls and embankments, and had an army of 8,000 warrior-monks. In 1574, the entire site was burned down during a conflict of Ikko-ikki. It was subsequently rebuilt and later became Hakusan Shrine under the Meiji-era policy of separating Shinto and Buddhism.

The moss carpets here, praised by the famous novelist Ryotaro Shiba as being "on a scale and of a quality that makes the moss at Kyoto's Saiho-ji Temple (aka "Moss Temple") seem laughable," are breathtakingly beautiful. Highlights include the Sanno-miya approach, the starting point of the Echizen Zenjodo pilgrimage trail to Mount Hakusan, stone-paved roads, and ruins that evoke its former grandeur (excavation work is ongoing).

Of all the remarkable sights in Fukui, this spot stands out as a top recommendation. If you have the chance, I highly encourage...

Heisenji Hakusan Shrine (平泉寺白山神社) is a historically significant Shinto shrine nestled in the forested foothills of Mount Hakusan in Katsuyama City, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. Established in 717 AD by the Buddhist monk Taichō, it originally served as a Buddhist temple and a base for pilgrimages to the sacred Mount Hakusan. Over time, it evolved into a prominent religious center, blending elements of Buddhism, Shintoism, and mountain worship.

In the 16th century, the temple complex was destroyed during the Echizen Ikkō-ikki uprising. Later, during the Meiji period's separation of Shinto and Buddhism, it was reestablished as a Shinto shrine, retaining the name "Heisenji" despite the "-ji" suffix typically denoting Buddhist temples.

Today, Heisenji Hakusan Shrine is renowned for its serene atmosphere, moss-covered grounds, and towering cedar trees. The approach to the shrine features a stone-paved path enveloped in lush greenery, offering a tranquil experience for visitors. The site is also recognized as a National Historic Site and a Place of Scenic...