Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Jinja

Mt. Fuji has been revered since ancient times as a natural god. Established as a place of worship for this awe-inspiring mountain, the shrine was further expanded and maintained during the Edo period together with the increasingly popularity of Fujiko, groups of laypeople who came together for the worship of Mt. Fuji. The origin of the shrine dates back 1,900 years past to the time of Japanese mythology depicted in the Kojiki. Here, you will find meticulously-sculptured shrine buildings from the Edo period in a forest that surrounds a millennium-old sacred tree. Toward the back of the shrine precincts is the Yoshida-guchi mountain trail entrance, where a massive torii shrine gate (the largest wooden torii in Japan) stands facing Mt. Fuji. Konohanasakuya-hime, the goddess of Mt. Fuji, has come to be worshipped in a way that reflects the many blessings the mountain brings to the everyday lives of people. Not only is she a goddess who benefits women, be it for safe pregnancy, conception, or match-making, she also has domain over creation and maturation, for example success in business, arts and entertainments, and the creation of new industry. You can understand the mindset of Japanese people when you see their beliefs in the beloved Mt. Fuji, the symbol of Japan and also in the beliefs that spirit and life reside with everything in the universe. Sengen Taisha is registered as part of the Mt. Fuji World Heritage Site.