Kandani Shrine

Kandani Shrine sits near the Kandani River in the shadow of Mt. Shiramine, and its main sanctuary is one of the oldest extant shrine buildings in Japan. A ridge tag discovered during Taisho-era repairs revealed the current structure was built in 1219, placing it firmly in the Kamakura period. Its curved cypress-bark roof extending over wooden steps, supported by four square pillars, is typical of that era's architecture, earning it National Treasure designation in 1955. The shrine's own records suggest a founding date of 812. A Kamakura-period statue of a Shinto guardian deity is among the treasures, shown only on select occasions.