In Kibi Area, there is the other historical shrine, which deifies Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto, than Kibitsuhiko Shrine. This is Kibitsu Shrine.

A hypothesis of archaeologists says Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto was a younger brother of "HIMIKO", who first ever united Japan in the third century. Kibitsu Shrine was built before the recorded age of Japan. As there is a record of Kibitsu Shrine written in 847, the shrine was built at the latest by middle of the ninth century. The shrine is the most important shrine in "Bicchu" Area, the middle part of the current Okayama Prefecture.

From Kibitsu Station, you will walk the approach to Kibitsu Shrine. Rows of pine trees continue along both sides of the approach.

After ten minute of walk, you will arrive at Kibitsu Shrine. The below picture shows the north entrance of the shrine.

When you will walk up stone stairs, you will walk through the North "Zuishin-Mon" Gate. The gate was rebuilt in 1547, and it is designated as an important property of Japan. After walking through the North "Zuishin-Mon" Gate, you will walk up further a couple of stone stairs and will arrive at the "Jyujyo Sho" Hall.

The "Jyujyo Sho" Hall is connected to the Worship Hall. The atmosphere was very solemn.

The below picture shows the main shrine building of Kibitsu Shrine. The main shrine building has a double hip-and-gable roofs structure. This structure is called the "Hiyoku-Irimoya Zukuri" Style. This style is very unique and only the main shrine building of Kibitsu Shrine has this style.

Not only the main shrine, but also the corridor of Kibitsu Shrine is beautiful and impressive. The corridor is located from the main shrine building to the south, through the west side of the main shrine building.

At the middle of the coridor, the South "Zuishin-Mon" Gate is located. The view of the corridor through the South "Zuishin-Mon" Gate is shown in the above picture. The South "Zuishin-Mon" Gate was rebuilt in 1357 and the oldest building in Kibitsu Shrine. The gate is designated as an important property of Japan.

The corridor meanders according to geographical features. It looked like a big snake is crawling on a hill.

If you walk through the corridor from the Worship Hall and turn to the right at the corridor shown in the below picture, you will reach the "Okama Den" Hall.

It is said that the fairy tale of "Momotaro" is related to the legend that Kibitsu-no-Mikoto slayed "URA", who governed the Kibi area before the recorded history. According to a hypothesis of archaeologists, Kibitsu-no-Mikoto, deified at Kibitsu Shrine, was dispatched by the Imperial Court of Japan in the Yamato period (from the third to the seventh century) to destroyed "URA" clan.

After Kibitsu-no-Mikoto slayed "URA", the soul of "URA" was confined under an iron pot in the "Okama Den" Hall.

"URA" offered Kibitsu-no-Mikoto to conduct the Shinto ritual on behalf of him and the ceremony of "Narukama Shrine" has started. The ceremony is conducted almost every day. The above picture shows the iron pot at the ceremony.

When I visited Kibitsu Shrine, it was just before sunset in Autumn. The scenery of Kibi from Kibitsu Shrine was very calm and beautiful.

How to get there
From Tokyo, take a "Nozomi" or a "Hikari" for Japan Rail Pass travelers to Okayama. From Okayama, take a local train on the JR Kibi Line to Kibitsu. Kibitsu Shrine is approximately ten minutes on foot from Kibitsu Station.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Ruins of Okayama Castle
Kibitsuhiko Shrine
Bicchu Kokubunji Temple
Ashimori Castle Town
Ruins of Kino Castle