Located in the picturesque town of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, Shirakawa Inari Shrine is a revered Shinto site dedicated to the rice goddess Inari Okami. The shrine's name, 'Shirakawa,' roughly translates to 'white river' or 'white stream,' which may refer to the nearby rivers and streams that once flowed through the area. As one of Japan's oldest Inari shrines, Shirakawa Inari Shrine has been an important site for centuries, with its primary function being the worship and protection of rice fields and agricultural fertility.
- Religion
- shinto
- Enshrined kami
- Inari Okami
- Kami enshrined
- Inari Okami, Amaterasu Omikami
- Coordinates
- 34.9943361, 135.9116125
Visitor tip
To make the most of your visit, consider visiting early morning or late evening when the sun's light creates beautiful shadows on the shrine's torii gates.
Cultural notes
Shirakawa Inari Shrine is known for its unique architecture, which features a distinctive white-painted main hall and a large torii gate that marks the entrance to the shrine. According to local legend, during the Edo period, the shrine's priest was said to have used sacred rice grains to make a protective charm against evil spirits. Today, visitors can still see this charm on display at the shrine.
Historical note
Founded during the 8th century, this shrine is believed to have been originally built as a Shinto shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, but was later enshrined with Inari Okami in the Edo period.