Biei-jinja Shrine｜Complete guide to the history, highlights, and worship information of this historic shrine

Biei Shrine, located in Biei-cho, Hokkaido, is known as one of the three major power spots in Biei and is visited by many worshippers for the blessings of love fulfillment and matchmaking. The shrine enshrines five deities including Amaterasu, and is famous for the heart-shaped decorations scattered throughout the shrine grounds and the heroic Nachi-Biei Fire Festival. Why not purify your body and soul in this sacred space surrounded by the rich nature of Biei?

Biei Shrine Overview and Basic Information

Biei Shrine is located in Higashi-machi, Biei-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, and was originally established in 1897 when Shiro Kinoshita received a spirit from his hometown in Wakayama Prefecture and built a small shrine on a large tree to worship it. The shrine was repeatedly relocated as the town grew, and in 1995, it was moved to its current location. Today, the shrine is loved by many as one of the three major power spots in Hokkaido.

History and Origin

The history of Biei Shrine dates back to 1896. It was founded by Shiro Kinoshita, a settler from Wakayama, and named “Biei Shrine” in 1907. The background of this construction is deeply related to the history of development of Biei-cho.

Currently, the shrine has been relocated and is erected on the periphery of the urban area of Biei-cho. Since the history of the shrine began in 1894 when a settlement group from Wakayama Prefecture pioneered the development of Biei, the shrine has been a source of emotional support for the local people since its founding. Many people in Biei-cho have origins in Wakayama Prefecture, including the time of settlement in 1894, and because of this connection, the town officially received the “fire” from the “Nachi Fire Festival (Fan Festival)” that has continued for over 1,000 years at Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine in Wakayama Prefecture, and conducts it as the “Nachi Biei-cho Fire Festival.

The shrine has moved many times as the town has developed, and it was only relatively recently, in the Heisei era, that it settled in its current location. However, its history and traditions have been handed down from generation to generation, and it continues to play an important role as the center of local residents’ faith.

Deities and Benefits

Five deities are enshrined at Biei Shrine: Amaterasu-Ookami, Izanagi, Izanami, Ketomiko-kami, and Okuninushi.

The main deity, Amaterasu, is the sun god in Japanese mythology and the ancestral deity of the imperial family. Izanagi and Izanami are the husband and wife deities who created the land and gods of Japan, and since the deities Izanagi and Izanami are also enshrined together, the shrine is often visited by people who wish to obtain blessings for marital bliss and marriage.

The deity Ietomiko-jin is known as the god of trees, and the deity Okuninushi is familiar as the god of marriage. Due to these deities, Biei Shrine is believed to be especially beneficial for love fulfillment and matchmaking. In addition, as it is known as one of the three major power spots in Hokkaido, people with various wishes visit the shrine from all over Japan.

Biei Shrine Highlights and Features

Biei Shrine is one of the three major energy spots in Biei and is a popular sightseeing spot in Biei along with Shirogane Aoi Ike Pond and Shirobeard Falls. Surrounded by the rich nature of Biei, the shrine grounds offer beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons.

Architectural and Structural Attractions

The shrine pavilions of Biei Shrine are built in the irimoya style, and the shrine grounds cover an area of 55 tsubo (183.8 m2) and a vast 4,512 tsubo (15,042 m2).

Biei Shrine is located in the central city of Biei-cho, and the precincts and surroundings are very well maintained. The red torii gate and the solid structure of the main shrine building are also highly regarded as well-balanced and beautiful. The decoration of the main shrine pavilions is particularly magnificent, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the beauty of traditional shrine architecture.

The precincts of the shrine are located on a level, flat, spacious, and breezy site. Visitors to the shrine are familiar with the wind chimes as a pleasant place to ring. In summer, the cool sound of the wind chimes echoes through the shrine grounds, providing a soothing experience for visitors.

Heart decoration “Inome” in the precincts of the temple

One of the most unique features of Biei Shrine is that there are many heart patterns hidden in the main shrine of Biei Shrine, and it is said that finding one will bring you luck in love.

If you take a closer look at the shrine building, you will notice heart-like decorations scattered throughout. These decorations are called “inome,” which are meant to ward off evil spirits and evil luck. The fact that they happen to look like hearts has made them popular among tourists.

Heart marks are scattered throughout the temple grounds, including the hall of worship. This is a traditional pattern called “inome,” which has been used since ancient times to ward off evil and evil spirits, and is a sacred decoration that originally meant to ward off evil and evil spirits. However, since it looks like a heart, it has become popular as a “hidden heart” among worshippers wishing for romantic fulfillment, and is called a “hidden heart,” not like the “hidden Mickey” at Disneyland, and there is a rumor that the more you find it, the closer you are to romantic fulfillment.

Attraction as one of the three major power spots in Biei

Biei Shrine, including Shirogane Aoi Ike, Biei Shrine, and Shirohige no Taki Waterfall, are also called the “three major power spots in Biei. Among these spots, Biei Shrine is especially known as a place where one can feel spiritual power.

Biei Shrine is said to be the place where the best chi flows in Biei-cho. There are three major power spots in Hokkaido, Hokkaido Shrine, Lake Toya, and Biei Shrine, and they are recognized as special places in Hokkaido.

This reputation as a power spot can be seen from the fact that the shrine has been introduced as a power spot in books written by spiritual counselor Hiroyuki Ehara, and is attracting attention from women in particular. Many people come here to seek peace of mind and the fulfillment of their wishes, and many people have said that they have actually felt a positive change in their lives.

Guide to Worship and Visiting the Shrine

Biei Shrine welcomes many worshippers throughout the year, and offers a variety of attractions such as special worship rituals, annual events, and popular red seals and good luck charms. When visiting the shrine, please keep in mind that it is a sacred place, and please visit with good manners.

Worship Etiquette and Manners

The manner of worship at Biei Shrine is the same as at ordinary shrines. First, bow when passing through the torii gate, and walk avoiding the center of the path. After purifying your hands and mouth at the hand- and mouth-cleansing booth, proceed to the main shrine building.

At the main shrine, you should pray in the manner of “ni-ai ni clap, ni-ii clap, ippai” (two claps, one bow). After making a monetary donation, ring the bell, bow deeply twice, clap your hands twice, and bow once at the end. Pray silently in your heart for your wish.

Biei Shrine is open for worship 24 hours a day, but the shrine office is open from 9:00-17:00. Photography is allowed in the shrine grounds, but please do so quietly and with consideration for other visitors. Particular care should also be taken not to make a lot of noise when looking for heart decorations.

Annual and Seasonal Events

The most important event of Biei Shrine is the annual festival day held on July 25. A grand festival is held for three days from July 24, the day before the annual festival day.

Of particular note is the “Nachi Biei Fire Festival” held on July 24. This fire festival was first held in 1989, and was started to pray for the calming of the eruption of Tokachi-dake volcano that occurred between 1988 and 1989. Seiko, dressed in white and carrying torches weighing 40 kg, parade through the streets at night before delivering the sacred fire to the Biei Shrine.

The fire festival usually starts around 7:30 p.m., and the parade route stretches about 1 km from Maruyama Park to Biei Shrine. It is a Shinto ritual to worship water and fire and express gratitude to nature. The sight of people parading with burning torches is powerful and evokes memories of the primitive times and is very moving.

In addition, from July 1 to August 18, the “Summer Pilgrimage” is held, where limited edition mikuji (written oracle) and limited edition red seal are presented with the wish that visitors will spend the remaining six months of the year happily and in a clean and fresh manner.

Information on red seals and good luck charms

Biei Shrine offers beautiful red seals and unique good luck charms, which are popular with many people as a commemorative souvenir of their visit.

The red seal is distributed for 500 yen, and the design of the seal is a calligraphy pad with an image of the hills of Biei. At the shrine office, you can get a beautiful red seal with a design of the hill town of Biei, and a red seal book with beautiful scenes of Biei is also popular. Special limited edition red seals are also awarded during the summer pilgrimage period.

One of the specialties of Biei Shrine is the “Hill Mamori. This amulet has a beautiful design with an elaborate landscape pattern of the hills of Biei. It is a perfect souvenir of your trip and also makes a great gift for relatives and friends.

Particularly unique is the “Ezomikuji. Visitors can enjoy the local mikuji “Ezo-mikuji” at 15 shrines around Hokkaido. At the Biei Shrine, the “Hitotsubu Manbai Tomimorokoshi (Tomimorokoshi) mikuji” in the shape of a grain of corn is available. It is very cute, with a heart mark glimpsed on the grain. What is even more unique is the way the lottery is drawn, with tongs used to pick up a piece of grilled corn from the charcoal-grilled stand.

Access and usage information

Biei Shrine is located near Biei Station and is easily accessible as a sightseeing spot. It is accessible by both public transportation and private cars, and is one of the must-visit spots when sightseeing in Biei.

Transportation Access

There are multiple ways to access Biei Shrine.

When accessing by train, the nearest station is “Biei Station” on the JR Furano Line. From Biei Station, take the Dohoku Bus bound for Shirogane Onsen, get off at the Maruyama stop, and walk about 10 minutes. It is also accessible on foot from Biei Station, which takes about 20 to 30 minutes. If you use a rental bicycle, it takes about 5 minutes from Biei Station, which is convenient when visiting Biei with sightseeing.

When accessing by car, it is located about 5 minutes from Biei Station on the JR Furano Line, on the left side of the road leading to Aoi Ike from downtown Biei. When using the expressway from Sapporo city, it takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to access the site.

Hours of Admission, Fees, and Parking Information

Biei Shrine can be visited 24 hours a day, and no entrance fee is charged. However, the shrine office is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and visitors wishing to receive a red seal or amulet must visit during these hours.

Free parking for approximately 20 cars is available for visitors. Since crowds are expected during the tourist season and events such as fire festivals, consider using public transportation. Especially during the Nachi Biei Fire Festival, it is recommended to use public parking lots in front of Biei Station, the town office, the town center, the sports center, etc. and walk to the viewing site.

Although no detailed information on special barrier-free facilities can be found at Biei Shrine, the precincts of the shrine are located on a level ground and are relatively easy to access. If you wish to visit the shrine with a wheelchair, we recommend that you contact the shrine in advance.

<Address> 4-1-1 Higashi-machi, Biei-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, 071-0213 Japan

Reference site

Hokkaido Jinja Agency: https://hokkaidojinjacho.jp/美瑛神社/
Biei-cho Tourist Association: https://www.biei-hokkaido.jp/ja/facility/biei-jinja