Oiwa Shrine: A Sacred Mountain Sanctuary

Oiwa Shrine, located in Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine with a rich history and serene atmosphere. Known as a 'power spot', the shrine is nestled in the mountains of the Hitachi Alps and has been a sacred site since ancient times. The shrine is dedicated to not less than 188 gods, a surprisingly high number, being located under the sacred Mt. Oiwa.Archaeological evidence suggests that Oiwa Shrine has been an important religious center since the Jomon period (14,000–300 BCE). The shrine is mentioned in the 'Hitachi no Fudoki,' one of Japan's oldest literary texts, referring to it by its former name, 'Yamakabire no Takamine'. The mountain itself is considered sacred, and climbing it is part of the pilgrimage experience.Visitors can explore the shrine grounds, discovering smaller sub-shrines and paths leading into the mountains. The towering cedar trees create a spiritual ambiance. The Sanbon-sugi, a cedar tree with three separate trunks, is considered one of Japan's 100 famous trees and is an object of worship. The shrine has strong ties to the Mito Tokugawa family. In 1630, Yorifusa Tokugawa, the first lord of the Mito clan, commissioned a shrine to worship the spirits of the three mountains of Dewa.Oiwa Shrine retains a unique form of worship that enshrines both Shintoism and Buddhism. The Ekosai Festival, held in April and October, is a traditional Shinto and Buddhist ceremony.