Himuro Shrine

Himuro Shrine is a shrine in Nara City dedicated to the deity of ice. In the Nara period, an ice pond and a "himuro"—a natural ice storage facility like an ancient refrigerator—were established in Kasugano. Many people involved in ice-related work come to worship here, and the annual "Kenhyō-sai" (Ice Offering Festival) is held each year before summer. From June to September, the shrine offers the rare "Kenhyō Sanpai," in which shaved ice is dedicated: apply at the shrine office, receive shaved ice in place of an offering, present it to the deities, place a coin in the offering box and pray, then eat the returned shaved ice with syrup. If you visit in summer, it’s well worth trying. Unique items such as the "Kōri-mikuji" (Ice Fortune) and shaved-ice-themed amulets are also popular. For the "Kōri-mikuji," you place the fortune slip on an ice block in the precincts to make the characters appear. Access is easy: take a bus from JR or Kintetsu Nara Station and get off at "Himuro Jinja / Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan-mae" (right nearby), or walk about 15 minutes from Kintetsu Nara Station. Beside Kagami Pond in the precincts stands a famous weeping cherry tree known as Nara’s earliest-blooming cherry, and it welcomes visitors with spectacular blossoms in season.