Fujisan Sengen Shrine

Fujisan Sengen Shrine (富士山本宮浅間大社, Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha), located at the southwestern base of Mount Fuji in Fujinomiya, is a significant historical and spiritual site. Established over 1,000 years ago to safeguard against volcanic eruptions, the shrine eventually became the head shrine of over 1,300 Sengen and Asama shrines across Japan. Traditionally, it served as the starting point for climbers embarking on Mount Fuji, where they would purify themselves in Wakutama Pond before beginning their ascent. The shrine’s striking architecture includes the two-story Inner Shrine, a rare example of the Sengen style, offering visitors a glimpse into Japan’s rich spiritual heritage.

The shrine is set in a beautiful natural environment, surrounded by 500 cherry trees that bloom spectacularly in the spring. Each year on May 5, it hosts the yabusame horseback archery contest, an exhilarating display of traditional Japanese archery. Seasonal ceremonies are held to mark the opening and closing of Mount Fuji’s climbing season, maintaining the shrine's connection to the mountain’s spiritual significance. While most climbers now begin their journey from the Fujinomiya 5th Station, the shrine remains a deeply sacred place. At the summit of Mount Fuji, the Okumiya, the shrine’s innermost grounds, encompass the crater and the land above the 8th Station, adding to the shrine's revered status.