Shrine · Sakurai (Miwa)
Omiwa Shrine 大神神社
One of Japan's oldest shrines, at the foot of sacred Mount Miwa in Sakurai; it has no main hall because the mountain itself is worshipped.
HoursGrounds always open; shrine office 9:00-17:00
PriceFree
Getting thereJR Miwa Station, 5 min walk
Time needed1-2 hours
Best timeYear round; New Year is very busy
Address1422 Miwa, Sakurai, Nara 633-8538
Websiteoomiwa.or.jp
About
Omiwa Shrine (Omiwa Jinja) is the first shrine (ichinomiya) of old Yamato Province and venerates Mount Miwa as the body of the deity Omononushi. A giant torii stands over the approach, and the prayer hall faces the forested mountain. Registered pilgrims can climb Mount Miwa on a strictly regulated path, and the shrine is a stop on the Yamanobe-no-michi trail.
Highlights
- Prayer hall facing sacred Mount Miwa (Important Cultural Property)
- Giant 32 m torii on the approach road
- Mount Miwa climb for registered worshippers
- Start of the Yamanobe-no-michi walking trail
Tips
- The Mount Miwa climb registers only in the morning (9:00-10:30 per the shrine's latest notice); no photos or food on the mountain
- Grounds are always open and free
- JR Miwa Station is a 5 min walk
Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-11
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