After our visit to the Fujisan Museum, we had a few moments to stop at the Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine. Situated in Goshinboku (sacred grove) of old forest, the shrine is one is related to the Shinto animistic worship of volcanoes and Sengen branch shrines that encircle Mt Fuji. This is considered the beginning of a traditional climb to the summit of Mt Fuji.
The shrine itself is considered the ‘head shrine’ of some 1300 other shrines that proliferate the region. Konohanasakuya-hime-no-mikoto as the main god that is considered to be enshrined here – she is attended by her husband, Ninigi-no-mikoto, and her father, Ohyamazumi-no-kami who together protect the marital relations and the family. The goddess of Mt. Fuji, she is prayed to for the safe delivery of children and was considered to be ‘incredibly beautiful’ so she is also worshiped as a goddess of beauty, art and entertainment.
While this shrine has traditionally been the beginning point of a pilgrimage to the summit to Mt Fuji, most climbers in the modern era tend to take a bus to the fifth station and start their hike from there, foregoing visiting this shrine altogether. However it is still considered the spiritual gateway onto the sacred mountain and as such it remains central to the yearly celebrations when the climbing season draws to an end at the end of each August – the Yoshida Fire Festival that we read about at the museum. It is good to see so many water sources so close to the shrine and the forest – some of these tress are 23m in girth and are known to be 1000 years old, as an Australian… holding an annual fire festival at the end of a sweltering summer seems to be tempting fate somewhat, in my humble opinion! 
Not for the first time, I find myself wishing I could read Japanese to see what prayers and wishes people have written on the votive wooden plaques they have left for the goddess. 
These shrines and temples are such peaceful places; a complete contrast to visiting St Paul’s Cathedral or St Peter’s in Rome – the latter feel more like shopping centres in comparison (complete with rope lines, bossy security and cash registers!). I hope Japan never goes this way with it’s religious sites.
From here we had a bit of a drive to Kamisuwa Onsen on Lake Kamisuwa… which was thankfully uneventful! We don’t need anymore time consuming traffic violations, thank you very much. Spotted as we left town:
I forgot how much I love Japanese convenience stores… saké in juice boxes for only 100JPY! Brilliant. 🙂
I have no idea what the koalas are signifying but they seem to be quite a populace motif on confectionery..? 
I took a picture of this curry bowl due to its alarmingly plastic/perfect looking egg on top… surely that can’t be an actual food object? 
But then I saw this, shrugged my shoulders and thought, ‘Meh? Japan!’ 🙂
