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Kinzanshin Shrine is located at the foot of Mount Ontake. In the past, this area was known for its iron ore production (referred to as "kinza" in Japanese), which is how the shrine got its name "Kinzanshin." Unlike typical shrines that have a main hall (honden) for worship, this shrine does not have a dedicated worship space like a honden.
The deity enshrined at Kinzanshin Shrine is the mountain itself, the 300-meter-high Omurodake Mountain. Therefore, there is no main hall; the mountain is worshipped directly. In Japan, this type of mountain worship culture is quite rare, with only three such shrines existing. The other two are Suwa Taisha in Nagano Prefecture and Omiwa Shrine in Nara Prefecture. Next to the approach to the shrine stands an 18-meter tall "Tahōtō" pagoda, built in 1534, which has been designated as an important cultural property.
Because the shrine is located in a mountainous area, it is quite tranquil except during the New Year’s first visit (hatsumōde) period. One can faintly hear the sound of a small stream and the rustling of branches in the wind, adding a touch of mystery to the shrine.
Additionally, if you hike up from the shrine, about 400 meters away is a massive rock known as "Kagami Iwa." This rock was polished to a mirror-like shine approximately 100 million years ago due to intense friction caused by underground fault collisions, and it has now been designated as a national special natural monument.
