Heisenji Hakusan Shrine
The temple was established as a base for worship by the Buddhist priest Taicho in 717 on the Echizen side of the sacred mountain Hakusan, an ancient object of worship. In the latter half of the Heian period, it became a branch temple of the Hieizan Enryakuji Temple of the Tendai sect of Buddhism, and although it became the largest religious city in Japan at the height of the Warring States period, the temple was burned to the ground during the uprising of followers of the Osaka Honganji sect of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism in 1574. With the Meiji program of separation of Shinto and Buddhism, the temple name of Heisenji was abolished and became Hakusan Jinja (shrine), and is now know as the "moss temple" for its beautiful moss carpet covering the grounds. In addition, Mitarashinoike Pond, where a goddess appeared to lead Taicho to Hakusan, and the giant cedars of Wakamiya Hachimangu that survived the burning of the temple, tell the tale of the bygone days of Hakusan Heisenji Temple.
Street address
- Heisenji, Heisenji-cho, Katsuyama City
About FUKUI Access
- 13 minutes by Dinagon bus bound for Heisenji (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays only *Not in operation from December to mid-March) from Katsuyama Station on the Echizen Railway, disembark at Heisenji hakusanjinja-mae
Opening Hours
- None
Closed
- None
Fee
Website
- http://heisenji.jp/
Best season
- All year
Point
- Free of charge
*A charge of 50 yen applies to enter Old Genjo-in Teien (National Site of Scenic Beauty)
Katsuyama Sightseeing Guide Volunteer Club
Cost of 1,000 yen per guide applies to cover transportation expenses
