Heisenji Hakusan Shrine

Recommended

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7 of 10 in Fukui

Heisenji Hakusan Shrine (平泉寺白山神社, Heisenji Hakusan Jinja) in Katsuyama offers a tranquil walk through mossy grounds beneath tall cedar trees. Founded in 717 as a Buddhist temple devoted to Mount Hakusan, the area once flourished as a large, powerful religious complex. A 600-meter path winds gently uphill from the entrance, lined with torii gates and a peaceful pond, leading to the shrine's prayer hall and main buildings, which symbolize the mountain’s three sacred peaks.

Though destroyed in the 16th century and later changed into a Shinto shrine during the Meiji period, the site retains its spiritual depth. Beyond the main shrine, a quiet forest trail leads to the Sannomiya inner shrine, which also marks the start of the pilgrimage route to Mount Hakusan’s summit. Nearby, visitors can wander past moss-covered ruins that hint at the shrine’s grand past. The peaceful setting is ideal for quiet reflection and connecting with nature.

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Heisenji Hakusan Shrine

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The easiest way to reach Heisenji Hakusan Shrine is by car—about 45 minutes from Fukui City or 15 minutes from the Fukui Dinosaur Museum. Without a car, you can take the Echizen Railway to Katsuyama Station (50 minutes), then transfer to a community bus on the Heisenji Line (30 minutes, 200 yen). This bus runs only once every 3 to 4 hours because it mainly serves local residents and is not widely used by tourists. A taxi costs around 3000 yen. On weekends and holidays (except in winter), a "Dinogon" tourist bus also operates for 300 yen per ride between the station, the shrine, the museum, and the Echizen Great Buddha.