Oiwa Shrine

Oiwa Shrine is known as “”the only shrine that enshrines both Shinto deities and Buddhas,”” conveying a unique faith not commonly seen at typical shrines or temples. Its founding date is not clear, but it is known that Jomon-period ritual remains have been excavated and that descriptions appear in the 721 text Hitachi no Kuni Fudoki, suggesting it has been a focus of worship since ancient times. During the Edo period it was considered the sacred peak of the Mito Domain, and successive lords visited it as a prayer site. In more recent years, it became famous as one of Japan’s strongest power spots due to an anecdote that astronaut Chiaki Mukai saw a pillar of light rising from a place on Japan when viewing it from space, and that place was said to be around Oiwa Shrine. The shrine enshrines as many as 188 deities, and its sacred tree, the “”Sanbonsugi”” (three-trunk cedar), is especially impressive: said to be around 600 years old, it splits into three trunks about 3 meters above the ground and reaches about 50 meters in height. You can also enjoy delicate flowers such as skunk cabbage and rhododendrons. Access is about 35 minutes by bus or about 20 minutes by taxi from JR Joban Line “”Hitachi Station.”