DISCOVER FUKUI

Hakusan Shrine has a history of more than 1,300 years.

It is said that during the Nara period (710-794), Great Master Taicho—who founded Mount Hakusan—established Heisenji Hakusan Shrine as a base on the Echizen (present-day northern Fukui Prefecture) side.　

Apparently, at one point it was a major religious city with a force of 8,000 monk-soldiers! It’s a fun place to stroll around the grounds while soaking up that history!

*This photo of the sunbeams was taken by @kayo.photoaka, a fellow photographer and Instagrammer from Fukui.

Grand Master Taicho, who opened Mount Haku (Hakusan), lived during the Nara period, but he was a true “superman” who left legends in various places from Ono (Okuetsu) in Fukui Prefecture all the way to Wakasa. There’s even a legend associated with Karikomi Pond—a famous autumn foliage spot in Fukui—that Grand Master Taicho sealed a giant serpent there. This Mitarashi Pond is the very place where Grand Master Taicho encountered a goddess and received a divine revelation instructing him to open Mount Haku. It’s a truly mystical place!　

This sacred tree is a cedar said to have been planted by that extraordinary figure, “Great Master Taicho.” It’s 1,300 years old!　

The tree is completely covered in thick, lush, and magnificent moss, and you can enjoy this stunning scenery up close.

It’s right in front of Mitarashi Pond!

Although a torii is often referred to as “Uefukazu-no-Mikado” (a gate without a roof), there is a torii with a roof—the exact opposite—within the grounds of Heisenji Hakusan Shrine.

This is the second Torii Gate located within the temple grounds.

You’ll see it right away if you walk straight down the path right in the middle of the grounds, so I hope you’ll take a moment to admire its majestic appearance!

*The photo of the second Torii Gate covered in snow is also by @kayo.photoaka.

The Echizen Pilgrimage Trail is a trail that starts from the back of the temple grounds—above the main hall—and passes through Mount Ho-onji and Mount Akausagi on its way to Mount Gozen-ga-mine; it is said to be the path that Taicho followed when he founded Heisenji.

Nowadays, people drive to the foot of Mt. Haku (Hakusan) and start their hike from there, but when I think about how people in the past walked all the way along this ridge, I realize they must have had incredible stamina and deep faith!

At Heisenji, you can see various types of moss.

I don’t know that many of them myself, but I did recognize Creeping Feather Moss, Haircap Moss (Pigeon Wheat), and Japanese Broom Moss! Since the area is so moist, you can see moss that’s really lush and vibrant.

As you can see in the photos, there are plenty of picturesque scenes, like the moss paired with young leaves!

Heisenji Hakusan Shrine is about a 10-minute drive from the Dinosaur Museum!

If you’re sightseeing in Katsuyama City, visiting the Dinosaur Museum, the Echizen Great Buddha, and Katsuyama Castle Museum in that order is a great way to see all these spots smoothly!

Since the shrine grounds are covered in moss, they’re beautiful not only on sunny days but also during the rainy season (which typically begins around June 11 and ends around July 23), when the rain creates a lush, misty atmosphere, and of course, the snowy scenery is stunning as well. You can enjoy the beauty of the grounds throughout all four seasons, so please be sure to visit Heisenji!