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Hakusan Heisenji Temple (Heisenji Hakusan Shrine)

A realm of quaint peacefulness, covered in cedars and moss.

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As the main praying grounds for the sacred peak, Hakusan, this sacred place opened in the year 717, by Taicho. During its peak during the Sengoku period, there were 48 palaces, 36 pavilions, and 8000 Buddhist temples. However, a rebellion took place in Echizen in the year 1574, which burnt the entire mountain down. In 1583, Kenkai the priest refurbished the entire place, but it was a minuscule attempt compared to its peak days.

In the Meiji period, Heisenji got rid of its status as a temple because of the Shinbutsu-Bunri (separation of Buddhism), which resulted in temple buildings being torn down and became the Hakusan Shrine. In 1989, a large-scale excavation took place, and various artifacts and ruins were found. This was Japan’s largest excavation to date, which gave the Japanese a glimpse of the religious city. Excavations are still taking place, since the original grounds used to be 10 times larger than the ones found now.

The old grounds had approximately 1.2km stone roads, and large cedar trees that survived the fire. The artifacts can be seen in the “Hakusan Heisenji History Museum - Mahoroba”, which is next to the old shrine road.

Highlights

  • Visitors can download a free guide app, “Hakusan Heisenji Walk Navigation”, which features maps and small guides.
  • Make sure to have 2 hours of free time to walk around the old grounds.
  • The main tourist navigation building, “Hakusan Heisenji History Museum - Mahoroba” allows visitors to gain information about the shrine.

Photos

  • The Hakusan Shrine, known as the “Moss Temple” because of it’s abundance of moss.

    The Hakusan Shrine, known as the “Moss Temple” because of it’s abundance of moss.

  • Old stone roads surrounded large cedar trees.

    Old stone roads surrounded large cedar trees.

  • At the excavation office, visitors can see replicas of soil moats used in the glory days of the shrine.

    At the excavation office, visitors can see replicas of soil moats used in the glory days of the shrine.

  • The large cedar tree, which survived the large fire in 1574.

    The large cedar tree, which survived the large fire in 1574.

  • Visitors can see excavated artifacts in “Mahoroba”.

    Visitors can see excavated artifacts in “Mahoroba”.

Reviews

1
  • Valiant Wang

    院內青苔鋪滿像個綠色地毯,是座幽靜美麗的神社。

Details

Name in Japanese
白山平泉寺(平泉寺白山神社)
Postal Code
911-0822
Address
Heisenjichoheisenji, Katsuyama City, Fukui
Telephone
0779-88-8117 (Katsuyama City Office)
Closed
Open every day
Hours
Open all day for worship
Admission
Free (50 yen for the former Genseiin Garden)
Access
Take the city bus from Echizen Railways Katsuyama Station, and leave at “Heisenji Hakusan Shrine Front” bus stop.
Official Website
Official Website (Japanese)