Fujisan hongu sengen taisya

Center of Fuji Worship
Oldest Shrine in the Tokai Region

Known as the Ichinomiya of Suruga Province, Fuji Sengen Taisha is the oldest shrine in the Tokai region, built in 806 AD by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro. It was established to calm the "Asama no Okami," the spirit of Mount Fuji, which caused devastation due to volcanic eruptions.

The shrine grounds are divided into the main precincts in Fujinomiya City and the Okumiya precincts at the summit of Mount Fuji. It is famously known that the summit area, from the eighth station upwards, excluding the climbing routes and weather station, is part of the shrine’s grounds and not registered as property.

At the entrance of the shrine grounds, a large vermillion torii gate stands, with a straight approach path leading to the shrine. The two-story Romon gate, approximately 6 ken high, houses guardian statues on either side, with a pole-standing stone placed in front of the gate. The shrine grounds beyond the gate feature cherry trees reportedly planted by Takeda Shingen.

The vermillion-painted worship hall stands directly ahead. The hall combines an Irimoya-zukuri style with a gabled roof at the rear, adorned with colorful carvings on the frog leg struts and rainbow beams. Despite the vibrant appearance, the overall structure is relatively simple and modest in design.

Located at the foot of Mount Fuji, the shrine grounds feature the Wakitama Pond on the east side. It is said that about 200,000 tons of water gush out from this pond every day, maintaining a year-round temperature of around 13 degrees Celsius.