Omiwa Shrine

One of the oldest shrines in Japan, the oldest shrine in Yamato Province, with Mt. The shrine does not have a main shrine building, but rather worships directly Mt.

Because it is worshipped directly, it does not have a main shrine. It is called Miwa Myojin, and was renamed Ookami Shrine in the Meiji era (1868-1912).

There are three Iwakura (rock formations) in the mountain: Okutsu Banza, Nakatsu Banza, and Henzu Banza, and they retain the form of ancient Shinto (primitive Shinto). Iwakura is the belief in a rock as a ceremonial object of worship.

The present worship hall was rebuilt in 1664 during the reign of Tokugawa Ietsuna, the 4th barbarian general of the Edo shogunate, and is designated as a national important cultural property.

Prior to that, there were only three torii gates and a zuigaki fence around the shrine. The Mitsu-torii (Miwa-torii), designated as an Important Cultural Property, located at the back of the shrine, is a unique form of the Myojin-torii form, with side torii connected on both sides.

The area from Mitsu-torii to Henzu-banza is a forbidden area, and earthenware, gravestones, and tea mortar balls dating from the Kofun and Nara periods have been excavated.

Miwasan, the shrine’s sacred body, is called “Mimuroyama” and has been worshipped as the god of sake since ancient times. The word “mimuro” means the source of sake.

According to the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan), during the reign of Emperor Sojin, when a plague broke out throughout the country, Emperor Sojin had a dream in which he was told by the deity Ohmononushi to dedicate sake to the god.

Takahashi Katsunichi-no-mikoto, a master sake brewer, brewed sake and dedicated it to the gods, which is said to have cured the plague.

For this achievement, Takahashi Katsunichi-no-mikoto became a regent of the Omiwa Shrine. He was the first toji (master brewer) in recorded history in Japan and is known as the god of sake.

Miwa, the sacred mountain, can be climbed. Once a sacred mountain, entry to the mountain was restricted as it was a forbidden mountain, but since the Meiji era (1868-1912), visitors have been allowed to climb the mountain on the condition that they observe the prohibition.

Do not forget to Eating and drinking, except for hydration, and photographing with a camera are prohibited, and it is forbidden to speak about the inside of the mountain to others.

It takes about 2 to 3 hours to climb the mountain, but you will be able to face yourself in the solemn atmosphere of this sacred mountain.