Himuro Shrine

Himuro Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Nara City established in 710, making it one of the oldest religious sites from the Nara period. The shrine enshrines three kami: Tsugenoinagi oyamanushi no mikoto, Emperor Nintoku, and Nukata no Onakatsuhiko no Mikoto. Originally dedicated to venerating Mount Kasuga, the shrine began gifting blocks of ice created in cold rooms to the imperial capital of Heijo-kyo around 711. After the capital moved to Kyoto, the shrine was abolished but later relocated to its current site and revived. The main hall was reconstructed in 1863 in the Sangensha Nagare-zukuri style with a cypress bark roof.

Himuro Shrine is possibly the only Shinto shrine in Japan where the resident deity is a God of Ice. The shrine continues to be visited by persons involved in ice-related industries such as ice making, refrigeration, and freezing. This unique specialization reflects Japan's ancient ice preservation practices, where winter ice was stored in special ice houses and presented to imperial courts during summer months. The shrine's name translates to "ice room shrine," referencing the traditional ritual of encasing fish in ice blocks before offering them to the gods.

Visitors can experience several distinctive traditions at Himuro Shrine. The shrine offers a special fortune-telling paper for 200 yen that reveals its message only when placed on ice, with the words gradually appearing and disappearing as the paper dries. From June 15 to September 15, visitors can request a bowl of shaved ice to serve the God of Ice, placing it on a wooden platform as an offering before consuming it with complimentary sugar water provided by the shrine. On the first day of each month, crystal clear ice lanterns with burning candles are placed along the shrine pathways from sunset to approximately 21:00.

The shrine hosts the Kenpyosai ice festival annually on May 1, where workers from ice-related companies pray for business success. The Himuro Shirayuki Shaved Ice Festival takes place in March, featuring famous shaved ice vendors from across Japan offering exclusive creations. The shrine grounds feature beautiful weeping cherry blossoms from late March to early April, with a particularly notable tree said to produce the earliest cherry blossoms in Nara.

Himuro Shrine is located a 15-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station and sits directly opposite the Nara National Museum within Nara Park. The shrine is accessible via the Himurojinja-Kokuritsuhakubutsukan bus stop. Visitors can take the Loop Bus from Nara Station or Kintetsu Station at a flat rate of 210 yen. The shrine is approximately a 20-minute walk from JR Nara Station. Admission to the shrine grounds is free, though special offerings and fortune papers require small fees. The shrine's location within Nara Park makes it convenient to combine with visits to nearby attractions including Todaiji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, and Isuien Garden.