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Shirakami-sha Shrine: A Beacon of History and Resilience

Discover Hiroshima's maritime heritage at Shirakami-sha Shrine, a symbol of resilience and cultural continuity in the heart of the city.

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Shirakami-sha Shrine, nestled in the heart of Hiroshima, began as a simple marker for ships navigating the coast. Today, it stands as a testament to the city's resilience, having been rebuilt after the atomic bombing and continuing to serve as a place of worship and cultural significance.

A brief summary to Shirakami-sha Shrine

Local tips

  • Visit during the Autumn Festival (October 28-29) for a vibrant cultural experience with food stalls and kagura performances.
  • Take a moment to appreciate the surviving stone lanterns, which serve as a reminder of the shrine's resilience after the atomic bombing.
  • Look for the stone lighthouse, a nod to the shrine's origins as a nautical safety marker.
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Getting There

  • Public Transport

    From Hiroshima Station, take a bus bound for Kannon, Ujina, or Yoshijima and get off at the Fukuromachi stop. The shrine is a 1-minute walk from there. Bus fare is approximately ¥220 [Japanese Yen].

  • Walking

    From the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, walk east along Peace Boulevard (Heiwa Odori). Turn right (south) onto Namiki-dori street. Continue walking south for several blocks. The shrine will be on your left. The walk is approximately 15-20 minutes.

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Discover more about Shirakami-sha Shrine

Shirakami-sha Shrine, or "White God" Shrine, carries a rich history that intertwines with the maritime origins of Hiroshima. In the 16th century, before extensive land reclamation, the area was a reef, posing a hazard to ships. White paper was placed on the reef as a warning, eventually leading to the shrine's establishment. The name "Shirakami" reflects this, combining the characters for "white" and "god," which is pronounced the same as the word for "paper". Mōri Terumoto, the daimyo who built Hiroshima Castle, reconstructed the main shrine building around 1591 to enshrine the clan's patron god. The shrine prospered alongside the growing castle town until August 6, 1945, when the atomic bomb destroyed it. Remarkably, some stone lanterns survived the blast. A temporary structure was erected quickly to continue the annual autumn festival, and the current shrine, rebuilt in the shinmei-zukuri style, dates back to December 1955. The shrine's main hall was rebuilt in 1989. Today, Shirakami-sha Shrine hosts its autumn festival every year on October 28 and 29. The festival features food stalls, carnival games, and kagura performances. Visitors can appreciate the shrine's architecture, participate in local traditions, and experience the spiritual atmosphere that has been preserved for centuries.

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