Omiwa Shrine｜Japan’s Oldest Shrine at Sacred Mount Miwa

The Great Torii Gate and Mount Miwa of Omiwa Shrine

Mount Miwa is a particularly beautiful cone-shaped mountain among the peaks that surround the Nara Basin. It stands 467 meters high with a circumference of 16 kilometers.

For a long time, Mount Miwa was a sacred area where entry was forbidden. However, in recent years, Pilgrims can now climb the mountain for worship after completing the necessary procedures at the affiliated Sai Shrine. (The term used is “climb for worship” rather than simply “climb.”)

The second torii gate just before the New Year

This is the approach to the worship hall.

Behind this worship hall stands the “Mitsu-torii” gate, and through it, we worship Mount Miwa, the sacred object of worship.

Ema for the Year of the Snake (2025, Reiwa 7)

At the chozu (purification fountain), many shrines have water flowing from the mouth of a dragon, but at Omiwa Shrine, it comes from a snake.

The Sacred Cedar of the Snake next to the worship hall

This tree is named after the white snake, which is thought to be the form of the deity Omononushi no Okami.
Eggs and sake are offered here.

The deity Omononushi no Okami, the main deity enshrined here, is said to have taken the form of a snake, as recorded in ancient texts like the Nihon Shoki. The snake deity is worshipped as an incarnation of Omononushi no Okami.

Eggs and sake are offered in front of the large tree because these are believed to be the preferred offerings of the snake deity, brought by worshippers.

This building is used for daily prayers and wedding ceremonies.

This is the palace site of the Makimuku Archaeological Site.

The information board at the Makimuku Archaeological Site.

Kusuri Path
This is the approach from the worship hall to Sai Shrine.
Medicinal trees and herbs donated by pharmaceutical vendors are planted along this path.
Omononushi no Okami, the deity of sake brewing and matchmaking, is also well-known as a deity of medicine.

Sugidama
Omononushi no Okami is also the deity of sake.
Since the medieval period, a custom emerged of bundling leaves from the sacred cedar trees of Mount Miwa and hanging them at the entrance of sake breweries.
These bundles of cedar leaves have evolved into the symbol known today as “sugidama” for sake shops.
Every year, “sugidama” is delivered from Omiwa Shrine to the sake breweries.

The shop selling Miwa somen next to the second torii gate
The roots of Japanese noodle culture can be traced back to “Miwa somen.”
It is characterized by its smooth texture and firm, chewy bite.

The Entrance to Mount Miwa Pilgrimage

Mount Miwa was long considered a “forbidden land,” but it is now open for pilgrimage.
The journey to the top is referred to as a pilgrimage, not a hike.
In less than an hour, you can reach the summit, where a sacred rock formation (iwakura) is located within a spiritual boundary.
Some pilgrims ascend the mountain barefoot.

Behind Sai Shrine, you can receive sacred water.
This holy spring flows continuously from Mount Miwa, and the water is pure, clear, and flavorful.
The spiritual benefits of this water are said to be bestowed upon those involved in sake brewing and medicine making.

Sai River
To the north of Sai Shrine flows the “Sai River.”
“I-suke-yori-hime,” the daughter of the great deity Ōmononushi, lived by the banks of this river.
After his ascension, Emperor Jimmu was searching for a suitable empress. Upon hearing of I-suke-yori-hime, known as “the daughter of a god,” he fell in love with her. They spent a night together at her home by the Sai River, and she became his wife.
The couple later had three children, the third of whom became the second emperor, Emperor Suizei.

After the death of Emperor Jimmu, danger approached their three children.
Sensing the threat, their mother, I-suke-yori-hime, warned them with the following song:

“The clouds are coming from the direction of the Sai River,
The leaves of the trees on Mount Unebi are rustling,
A great wind is about to blow.”

Hearing this song, the children were able to escape the danger.

Kuehiko Shrine
The deity enshrined at this shrine is Kuebiko-no-Mikoto, who appears in the Kojiki (Japan’s oldest written text) as the “deity of wisdom who knows everything about the world.”
Because of this, many people visit the shrine to pray for academic success and passing exams.

In the Kojiki, Kuebiko-no-Mikoto appears in the myth of the “Creation of the Nation” alongside Okuninushi-no-Mikoto.
When Okuninushi was pondering how to proceed with building the nation, a “small deity” came from across the sea. No one knew who this small deity was, but it was said, “Kuebiko, the deity of knowledge, would surely know.”
When they summoned Kuebiko and asked, he immediately replied, “That is the deity Sukuna Hikona.”
Following this, Sukuna Hikona helped Okuninushi in the task of nation-building, but suddenly, he departed to another world.
Once again, Okuninushi wondered what to do next, when the great deity Omononushi appeared. He instructed Okuninushi to “enshrine me atop a mountain in the east of Nara Province to complete the creation of the nation.” Following this wish, Omononushi was enshrined on Mount Miwa, marking the founding of Omiwa Shrine.

Between Sai Shrine and Kuehiko Shrine, you will find Omiwa-no-Mori.
From here, you can enjoy a stunning view of the Nara Basin. In particular, the Three Mountains of Yamato (the historical name of Nara Prefecture) are beautifully visible.
In the center of the photo, you can see small, cone-shaped, and picturesque mountains. To the right is Kaguyama, and to the left is Unebi-yama.
It was at the foot of Unebi-yama where Emperor Jimmu was declared the first emperor and the founding of Japan was announced.

The cherry blossoms are very beautiful.