Shirayama Hime Jinja Shrine

This is the head shrine of nealy 3,000 Shiraishi / Hakusan Shrines scattered nationwide. Mt. Hakusan provides “Water of Life,” which is vital to all life, and residents at the foot of the mountain have reverenced it as the seat of a god and a holy area. In time, the mountain faith turned into a climbing worship style.

From the 1st gate, onto the approach and passing through the 2nd and 3rd gates, you will see the Shinmon Gate. In front of it, a graceful outer worship hall made of cedar with a gabled copper roof stands. Behind it, the Naoraiden, worship hall, Heiden, and main halls are lined up. The main hall was built by the 10th Kaga Domain lord, Maeda Shigemichi in 1770 and it enshrines Kukuri-Hime no Kami.

Kukuri-Hime no Kami appears in Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan) when she helped Izanagi no Mikoto and Izanami no Mikoto make up in their argument at the entrance to the underworld. Thus, Kukuri-Hime is known as a god of relationships. The ground is also dotted with a stable which enshrines the sacred horse that is said to have appeared with Kukuri-Hime on its back, Misogiba where you cleanse sins and impurities, Hakusan Reisui, the holy water for longevity, etc. Hobutsukan Museum also shows a number of valuable treasures.