⛩️ Hiraizumi Haku-san Shrine

Hiraizumi Hakusan Shrine (Hakusan Hiraizumi) is a base for worshipping at the sacred peak of Hakusan, established in the year 717 by Taichu as a spiritual site. During the Sengoku period, Hiraizumi Hakusan Shrine reached its peak with 48 shrines and 36 halls, housing as many as 8,000 temple lodgings. In 1574, the Ikko-Ikki uprising broke out in Echizen, resulting in the destruction of the entire mountain. After that, in 1583, Akemi attempted to rebuild it, but its scale was significantly smaller compared to its heyday. Entering the Meiji era, Hiraizumi was stripped of its temple status due to the "Separation of Shinto and Buddhism" decree, and the related buildings were dismantled and converted into Hakusan Shrine. In 1989, after the official excavation investigation began, many stone piles, stone walls, and remnants of temple lodgings were discovered, gradually confirming that Hiraizumi was one of the largest religious cities in Japan at the time. The investigation revealed that the original area was more than ten times larger than it is today, and excavations are still ongoing. Within the former grounds, there is an old approach lined with stone piles extending about 1.2 kilometers, and several notable sights, including a giant cedar tree that survived the mountain's destruction. Artifacts are displayed at the "Hakusan Hiraizumi History Exploration Hall MAHOROBA" next to the old approach.

You can download the app "Hakusan Heisenji Sanpo NAVI," which includes maps and sightseeing guides, for free from the official website. A complete tour of the old area takes about 2 hours. Various tourist information can be obtained at the comprehensive tourist information center "Hakusan Heisenji History Exploration Hall MAHOROBA."