Mikami Shrine

Overview

Mikami Shrine is a venerable Shinto shrine in Mikami, Yasu, Shiga Prefecture. It venerates 432-meter Mount Mikami as its sacred body-mountain (shintai); the peak's graceful cone has earned it the nickname Ōmi Fuji. Listed as a Shikinaisha (Myōjin Taisha) and once ranked as an imperial shrine, it is today a Beppyō shrine of the Association of Shinto Shrines, and its main hall is designated a National Treasure of Japan.

Highlights

• ●The majestic hip-and-gable main hall designated a National Treasure
• ●Worship of Mount Mikami, the graceful Ōmi Fuji, as the sacred body-mountain
• ●The ancient legend of Ame-no-mikage-no-mikoto descending onto the peak
• ●The storytelling appeal of the Tawara Tōta centipede-slaying tale

History

The enshrined deity is Ame-no-mikage-no-mikoto, a grandson of the sun goddess Amaterasu, who by legend descended onto Mount Mikami during the reign of Emperor Kōrei to become the mountain's divine embodiment. Rising above the southern shore of Lake Biwa, Mount Mikami is also famous as the stage of the legend in which Fujiwara no Hidesato (Tawara Tōta) slew a giant centipede, preserving an ancient form of worship in which mountain and deity are one. The shrine is counted among the sites of the Shinbutsu Reijō pilgrimage route.

Map

35.0498, 136.0274 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1From JR Yasu Station, head toward the foot of Mount Mikami, the Ōmi Fuji
2. 2Visit Mikami Shrine and take in the architecture of the National Treasure hall
3. 3Gaze up at Mount Mikami and reflect on the centipede-slaying legend
4. 4If time allows, extend the trip onto the Mount Mikami climbing trail

Did you know?

💡 The main hall, built in the hip-and-gable (irimoya) style, is designated a National Treasure and stands out as a highlight of shrine architecture. The Tawara Tōta centipede-slaying legend tied to Mount Mikami has been retold across the region, adding a touch of storytelling to a shrine visit.

Nearby spots