Oiwa Shrine Tickets and Tours

Hitachi Cultural Adventure to Sacred Trail and Gateway Day Tour

Rising∶Sun, mountains, and magic.

Hitachi, one of the largest cities in Ibaraki prefecture, translates as "Rising Sun", and Hitachi Station, where our trip began, offers a fantastic view of the Pacific and the daily ascent of the light. Our guide, Miyuki, led us on the short car ride to the shrine at the foot of Mt Oiwa, where our hiking course would start amidst huge and sacred Cedar trees. Here, we were given a personal tour of this fascinating area by one of the Mika (shrine maidens), who told us of its history as a place where Shinto and Buddhism have traditionally coexisted, and allowing us, as special guests, a special glimpse at some hidden treasures, of watchful dragons and rescued stones, including a chance to see inside inside a brand new building that is usually hidden to visitors, where beautifuly depicted scenes of the four seasons sit under a painted sky of heavenly bodies. In preperation for our hike up the sacred mountain, we took part in a Shinto ceremony that allowed us the opportunity to ask for some help from the gods. As Oiwa Mountain is said to be home to 188 of them, it is probably a good idea to receive their blessings before you (politely) make your way through their home. In fact, there are certain rules of politeness you are asked to obey when using the course. On the trail up the mountain, you pass rocks that have been rising since the Cambrian period (about 500 million years ago), and, hopefully faster than those rocks, when you arrive at the summit of Mt Oiwa there is a very special rock to see at the top - a popular "power spot" that may well guard a few secrets... The view from the summit is spectacular, (no wonder the gods chose to live here!) and we enjoyed the delicious rice balls that we had chosen at the traditional oni-giri shop on the way to the shrine. Descending down a different trail, there were new sites to be seen; old, venerated places in landscapes that look as though they had been designed to be in a Ghibli movie; eventually arriving back at the shrine to recieve some gifts, brush the mud from our shoes, before having the chance to be welcomed into a traditional Japanese home by a very friendly local resident. After a day that had flown by, we found ourselves back at Hitachi Station, tired but happy, with the magical experiences of our trip still fresh. Cpnsequently, looking out over the Ocean where the Sun would rise, with the great vault of blue, I wouldn't have been surprised to see a dragon off in the distance, or a flash of light ascending from Mt Oiwa, a message from the gods perhaps, and supposedly one that was once observed by an astronaut rising to heaven themselves...

North Ibaraki Tour

Worth deep dive into sites of Ibaraki

Excellent guide (Keiichiro)- very knowledge Comfortable car We went in November and the fall colors were beautiful Interesting sites

Trekking Tour to Faith, Ancient Paths and the Falls from Hitachi

Beautiful, untouched Ibaraki!

Beautiful Ibaraki is still untouched by any sense of tourism and is the place to explore for those who are seeking an authentic experience in the countryside and a refreshing change of scenery and pace with just 2 hours from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. Every place looks like a scene from a Studio Ghibli film, and I won't be surprised if a mystical character would pop out from somewhere and walk alongside us. Indeed, standing atop Mt. Oiwa with a view over snow-capped trees and the lunch stop over the Furokuda Falls along the Hitachinokuni Long Trail hike felt quite magical! Our guide, Miyuki, is very helpful and considerate, she anticipates every possible need we might have, extra gloves, windbreakers, hiking poles, hot water and this nice ginger-matcha tea!