The great torii gate of Shirahige Shrine stands in the water of Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake. Shirahige Shrine, the oldest shrine in the old province of Omi, is said to have 2,000 years of history since its founding. (Takashima, Shiga Prefecture) This is the head shrine of more than 300 Shirahige shrines across Japan. Incidentally, the “hige” (beard) in the name can be written with three different characters — for a chin beard, a mustache and sideburns — and in the Kansai region the chin-beard version is the most common.
The torii gate is lit up on Saturday and Sunday evenings, among other nights.
Blessings
- Good relationships and matchmaking
- Being blessed with children
- Long life
- Prosperous business
- Traffic safety
Information
- Shirahige Shrine
- Address: 215 Ukawa, Takashima, Shiga Prefecture
- Website: http://shirahigejinja.com/
- Information is as of the original Japanese article (2020). Please check the official website for the latest details before visiting.
