Karasaki Jinja Shrine
shrine
Karasaki Jinja Shrine
唐崎神社
Overview
This is the legendary spot where Ōnamuchi arrived by boat from Nara, revealed himself to be a deity, and convinced a warrior named Koto no Mitachi Ushimaru to build a shrine and serve there as priest.
Karasaki Jinja, established in 692 on the western shore of Lake Biwa, enshrines Wakesuki-hime no Mikoto, a deity known for healing gynecological conditions, and draws visitors who come to pray for health as much as for the famous pine tree on the grounds. That pine, now in its third generation, is the descendant of a tree praised in the 8th-century poetry collection Man'yoshu. Its second-generation ancestor was painted by Utagawa Hiroshige as one of the Eight Views of Omi, and a wooden plaque near the current tree carries a haiku by Matsuo Basho in its honor. The tree is old and broad, spreading far over the lakeshore.
Local tips
Purify your hands at the temizuya before approaching the main hall. Left hand first, then right, then pour water into your left hand to rinse your mouth.
Practical info
- Japanese name
- 唐崎神社
- Nearest station
- Hiei-zan-sakamoto Station (10 min bus)
- Payment
- Cash only
- Reservations
- not required
Want to visit Karasaki Jinja Shrine?
Build a trip to Otsu