Kibitsu Shrine
Kibitsu Shrine, An Old Shrine In Okayama Linked To The Momotaro Folk Tale, With A Very Long Covered Corridor Of About 360 M, A Cypress Main Hall In A Rare Style And A Quiet Wooded Setting Beside A Hill. Calm Outside Of New Year. · Okayama, Okayama
Kibitsu Shrine sits at the foot of a wooded hill on the north-west edge of Okayama, about 10 minutes on foot from Kibitsu Station - confirm. It honours Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto, a prince tied to the Momotaro (Peach Boy) folk tale, in which the demon Ura of Kibi stands for the old story - confirm. The best-known feature is a covered corridor of about 360 m with stone lanterns, running along the hillside and turning at the corners. The main hall and worship hall share a rare roof style called Kibitsu-zukuri and are a National Treasure - confirm. Visitors also know the Narukama Shinji, a rite in which a pot of boiling rice makes a roaring sound and is said to tell your fortune - confirm. Hydrangeas flower in June - confirm. Entry is free - confirm. It suits a calm half day, a short train ride from Okayama, and fits well with Korakuen and Bitchu Matsuyama Castle. Quiet outside New Year and festivals.
931 Kibitsu, Kita-ku, Okayama, a short walk from Kibitsu Station on the JR Kibi Line, a few stops from Okayama, Okayama, Okayama, Japan
The grounds are open in daytime and commonly close by late afternoon, with shorter hours in winter; the shrine office, where charms and stamps are sold, closes earlier - confirm. Entry to the grounds is free - confirm. The Narukama rite is held on request or at set times, and the cauldron house may be closed on some days, with a small fee - confirm. From Okayama Station take the JR Kibi Line to Kibitsu Station, about 15 minutes, then walk about 10 minutes - confirm. New Year, spring and autumn festivals are busier. Bring cash for charms and the rite. No booking is needed except for a prayer on a festival day.