Kirishima-jingu Shrine — Attraction in Kirishima

We visited Kirishima Jingu during our trip to Kagoshima, and it was truly one of the most serene and memorable stops. Nestled at the foot of Mt. Kirishima, the shrine felt like a peaceful retreat from the bustle of city life. The long path through the trees, flanked by towering torii gates and old cedars, created a calming, almost mystical approach to the shrine grounds.

The bright vermilion colors of the shrine buildings stood out beautifully against the green forest backdrop. Even though it was a bit of a climb up the stone steps, it was totally worth it. The architecture is intricate and well preserved, and we learned that parts of the complex are designated national treasures. We even found the sacred cedar tree that’s said to be over 800 years old.

We also stopped by a small observation deck nearby where we caught a view of the surrounding mountains—and on clear days, you can apparently even see Sakurajima. There’s a peaceful energy around the whole area, and it really felt like a spiritual experience.

Highly recommend spending at least 1–2 hours here if you’re in the region. It’s not just a visit—it’s a moment to slow down and appreciate nature, history,...

The shrine has lost its charm - at least for my last visit until they finish up their renovations. There are long lines to prey at the main shrine, so my family and I always visit a lesser known shrine in the forest behind the main shrine. The priests told us the forest shrine is more powerful anyways. It is a nice place to go. However, on my last visit, there was somewhat questionable renovation going on: the fish pond by the main shine with many carp fish was drained and empty, a large tree by the main shrine which always had geckos living in it was chopped down, and the gravel road to the forest shrine had messy construction going on the side complete with a digger. Hardly felt natural for me... If you haven't been to the shrine before, you will probably enjoy the experience. If you have already been, go hike in the Kirishima mountains of the Ebino Plateau for a true nature...

Beautiful place. I liked the crescendo : the more you progress, the more everything around you gets beautiful. I don't want to spoil the pleasure for anyone, so I won't say much more. Just look around. Just a suggestion: After crossing the bridge, instead of going up the stairs, you could take a left, and then a right to the stairs that lead to Kame Ishi. Then you could go directly to Yama Shrine (left), which is worth a detour, and only then stroll to the main temple. Without missing the beautiful, moss-covered,...