Haruna Jinja (Haruna Shrine)
はるなじんじゃ
A famous shrine on Mount Haruna that preserves the legacy of Shugendo (ascetic mountain worship), featuring a path lined with unique rock formations and waterfalls, as well as the Osugata Iwa.
Overview
The enshrined deities (kami) are Kasanshinriki (the fire deity) and Haniyama-himekami (the earth deity). This ancient shrine is said to have been founded in 586 CE (Yōten Tennō 1) and was designated as one of the six shrines of the Ueno Province and a Shikinai-sha (a shrine within the jurisdiction of the Imperial Court). During the Middle Ages, it was known as 'Mangyō Gongen' as a center for Shugendo on Mount Haruna. It is known as a power spot for Ki energy, characterized by a unique landscape where nature and architecture blend into one; the Osugata Iwa towering behind the main hall (honden) is a sacred rock (iwakura) enshrining the deity, and the path is lined with towering strange rocks and the Binshi no Taki waterfall.
Enshrined deity / legend
Kasanshinriki and Haniyama-himekami
Highlights
- ・Osugata Iwa (a massive rock enshrining the deity)
- ・Soryumon (dragon carvings)
- ・The approach path lined with strange rocks and Binshi no Taki waterfall
- ・The main hall (honden) in Gongen-zukuri style (built in 1806)
Details may change. Please check official sources before visiting.