Hakusan Shrine, situated in Tokyo’s Bunkyo Ward, is a charming and historically significant Shinto shrine. Known for its lush hydrangea garden, which blooms vibrantly in early summer, the shrine attracts visitors for its tranquil beauty and its annual Hydrangea Festival. This shrine offers a peaceful respite from the city and a glimpse into traditional Japanese culture.
Table of Contents
Location:
Hakusan Shrine is located in Bunkyo Ward in Tokyo, Japan. It is one of the 10 famous shrines in Tokyo, known as Tokyo Jissha.
Bunkyo City is famous for Tokyo University, Koishikawa Botanical Garden, Tokyo Dome City, and Nezu Shrine.
The Shrine is only 2 minutes walk from Tokyo Metro Toei Mita Line Hakusan Station (Exit A3) and 6 minutes from Honkomagome station(Namboku line).
The shrine has two main entrances. Metro Toei Mita Line Hakusan Station side is just slope road.
However, the other one is stiff stairs. So, baby carts or wheelchairs cannot climb up.
History:
Hakusan Shrine was established in 948. However, the Shrine was moved to its current location in 1655.
During the Meiji Period in 1868, Emperor Meiji chose 10 shrines in Edo. These 10 shrines became famous sanctuaries for the new capital, known as Tokyo Jissha, in the present.
Moreover, the Shrine’s name came from Hakusan Mountain.
Hakusan is one of the most sacred mountains in Japan, located in Ishikawa Prefecture.
Hakusan literally means, ‘White Mountain.’
Before moving the Shrine to the present location, it was inside the Koishikawa Botanical Garden, located in Bunkyo near Tokyo Dome City, where Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi’s(1680-1709) mansion was built.
Kukurihime no Mikoto is a Japanese Shinto goddess worshipped as Shirayama Hime at Shirayama Hime Shrine in Hakusan, Ishikawa Prefecture. She is also honored at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine.
It is worth mentioning that more than 3,000 goddess Kukurihime shrines are located in Japan.
Facts:
The shrine is most famous for three important facts, which are discussed below-
- Present facts:
- Religious Facts
- Political facts
Besides, the shrine is a designated Important Cultural Property by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
Present facts:
Hakusan Shrine is presently famous for two reasons.
1)One of the 10 famous shrines in Tokyo, a must-visit for Shinto pilgrimage
2) Hydrangea Festival in June.
Religious Facts:
However, it has two religious facts that made Emperor Meiji choose the Shrine as one of the famous shrines in Edo. These two facts are marriage and toothache.
A goddess of marriage, Kikuihime enshrines at Hakusan Shrine, who holds the power of a strong family bond. Devotees strongly believe that the goddess can solve all the problems between a couple and make a strong tie again.
Besides, the goddess can also bring back a good relationship from a broken friendship again among the friends.
The second religious fact was an empress came to pray to recover from her toothache. So she prayed to Hakusan Shrine. Luckily, she recovered from her toothache.
Afterward, it is believed to be a place for healing toothaches. However, in Japan, toothache is no more an unknown reason nowadays. But people still love praying at the temple for their sound health and teeth.
But, there is a toothbrush service at the shrine premises during the Ajisai Matsuri when devotees can clean their toothbrushes, believing that their teeth will remain healthy.
Political Facts:
There is a famous monument in front of the Hakusan Shrine. But, unbelievably, it is the monument of the Father of the Republic of China, Sun Yat-sen(1866 –1925).
According to history, Sun Yat-sen was in Japan during his exile. So he had a good relationship with Japan.
A famous politician and philosopher, Toten Miyazaki, supported him for his Xinhai Revolution. Even he had a Japanese wife named Kaoru Otsuki.
In addition, there is a heresy that Sun saw Comet Halley from the Hakusan Shrine in 1910 during his visit to Toten Miyazaki. Miyazaki was living nearby the Hakusan Shrine. Moreover, Halley inspired him for his revolution.
Comet Halley is visible from Earth every 75–76 years. It appeared in 1910 on April 10 and came to perihelion on April 20.
Halley last appeared in 1986 and will next appear in mid-2061.
But, some say a different story because Sun was baptized in Hong Kong on May 4, 1884, by Rev. C. R. Hager. That is why he would not rely on Halley.
Whatever it might be, the stone monument of Sun Yat-sen is famous at Hakusan Shrine. Many tourists come to the shrine to see his stone monument.
Festival:
The shrine holds several events and festivals. However, in general, the most famous festivals of the shrine are New Year Festival and Ajisai Matsuri.
Ajisai Matsuri and Hatsumode the shrine get more visitors than any other season of the year.
Hatsumode:
Needless to say, Hatsumode is the most famous festival and event in Japan. Most of the offices, business centers, schools, colleges, and universities remain close during Hatsumode.
Like other shrines in Tokyo, people line up at Hakusan Shrine for their first visit. As many visitors flow to the shrine premises, several shops, tea stalls, and food stalls come during the time, which lasts for three-four days.
Ajisai Matsuri:
It is home to Bunkyo Ajisai Matsuri, the major hydrangea festival in central Tokyo, held in mid-June.
One of the best Hydrangea Festivals(Ajisai Matsuri) takes place annually at Hakusan Shrine, with around 3,000 plants.
The small path leading up to the shrine is beautiful, with several small food booths and traditional Japanese stone lanterns.
In a word, the Hakusan Shrine is an excellent tourist spot to wander around during the Ajisai Matsuri in mid-June.
Fujizuka:
Even though the shrine is a small shrine but it has a Fujizuka.
Fujizuka is a symbol of Mt. Fuji. According to Shintoism, Mt. Fuji is a sacred mountain in Japan.
So, having Fujizuka in a shrine is very significant.
However, it remains close almost whole the year. But it is open during the Hakusan Shrine Ajisai Matsuri.
Opening hours: 24 hours
Entrance fee: free
Best visiting Time: During the Ajisai Matsuri from mid-June to last week. The flowers last almost two weeks.
Access:
Access:
Nearest Station: Hakusan Station
2 minutes walk(Toei Mita Line: Exit A3)
6 minutes from Honkomagome station(Namboku line)
Address:
5 Chome-31-26 Hakusan, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 112-0001, Japan.
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