Jan 3, 2015 - 1 min read

Sengen-jinja

A lavish shrine in Shizuoka City

By Peter Sidell

Community writer

A guardian statue by one of the shrine gates

Some of the carvings in the eaves

More carvings overhead, with some fierce-looking airborne lions

This lantern's been here a good long time

Some of the shrine buildings

This side shrine has some newer lanterns

These must have also been standing here a while

People come here to make wishes

One of the entrance gates from the street

On the hill behind the shrine there's a tumulus with this burial chamber inside

The path up the hill behind the shrine

A view out over the city from the hill behind the shrine

Another way to get to the hill is up these steps

There's also a peaceful pond in the shrine grounds

Grass grows from the lichens on the trees

I really don't know what these balls are

Some more colourful decoration

Half an hour north of the station, Sengen-jinja is Shizuoka City's largest and most important shrine. It's worth visiting for the peaceful atmosphere - in one hour here, I saw maybe ten other people - and for the beautiful detailed carvings decorating many of the buildings, contrasting with the ancient moss on the trees and old lanterns. Climb up the hill behind the main shrine grounds and you'll find an old tumulus, a very nice view out over the city, and you might get to meet some of the wild pigs living in the forest there!

Was this article helpful?

Help us improve the site

Give Feedback

Peter Sidell

By Peter Sidell

Community writer

Following Follow

Thank you for your support!

Your feedback has been sent.