What other travelers are saying about Himuro Shrine
🧊 Himuro Shrine (氷室神社) is a beautiful, peaceful sanctuary that offers a welcome moment of quiet reflection amidst the hustle of Nara Park.
It holds a special charm and a deep sense of serenity and spirituality (khlang).
The shrine is conveniently located right next to Nara Park and is along the path leading to the much larger and famous Tōdai-ji Temple. It’s an easy and worthwhile stop on your walking tour.
Atmosphere: Compared to the main attractions, Himuro Shrine is quiet and tranquil. It is dedicated to the God of Ice, which gives it a unique history, particularly with regard to ice making and refrigeration.
The Unique Experience: Ice Fortune Teller!
The most memorable part of a visit here is their special fortune telling ritual:
* The Ritual: For JPY 200, you can try their unique omikuji (fortune slip) where you place the paper slip onto a block of ice to reveal your fortune.
* A Novel Experience: This is a truly new and unusual experience that you likely won't find at many other Japanese shrines. It’s a fun, inexpensive, and interactive way to get a glimpse into your future!
Generally peaceful. I consider it to be a good stop before you head to the Todaiji Temple. I've come here on Sunday and it can get really busy but it's May so it's not crazy busy. Goshuin costs 600 yen. It's known for its ice offerings and you can buy an ice fortune that is relieved when placed on the ice.
Himuro Shrine (氷室神社), located near Nara Park in Nara City, is a charming Shinto shrine with a unique historical significance tied to ice preservation. The shrine, whose name translates to “Ice Room Shrine,” is dedicated to the deity of ice, honoring the role of ice in ancient rituals and daily life.
Established during the Heian period (794–1185), Himuro Shrine was built to venerate the gods responsible for the natural formation and preservation of ice. In a time before refrigeration, ice was a rare and valuable commodity, used in imperial ceremonies and for preserving food. Himuro Shrine’s spiritual significance grew as it became associated with the protection of ice and cold weather.
The shrine is modest in size but rich in cultural charm. Its serene atmosphere is enhanced by traditional wooden architecture and seasonal beauty, including cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves later in the year. A notable feature is the annual Himuro Shrine Ice Festival (Himuro Taisai), held every May. During this event, large blocks of ice are offered to the deities, symbolizing gratitude and the importance of ice in daily life.
Visitors often stop at the shrine to seek blessings for health, prosperity, and relief from summer heat. Himuro Shrine also offers a quieter alternative to Nara’s larger and more crowded attractions, making it an ideal destination for those seeking tranquility and a deeper connection to Japan’s cultural traditions.
Himuro Shrine is hardly one of the more popular attractions in Nara, but it’s still worth a visit. It’s on the way if one is walking from the train station to Todai-ji, so one doesn’t even need to go out of one’s way to visit. A short visit is enough, perhaps on the way to or way back from other attractions. This shrine is also quieter than the other more popular sites, which is a bonus if one is all touristed out.
All photos taken on 24/03/23. Himuro Shrine is famous for its special Omikuji (fortune tellers), which are placed on ice and can predict your future, including health, wealth, life, etc. When spring comes, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom and the shrine looks even more beautiful.
Himuro Shrine is possibly the only Shinto shrine in Japan where the resident deity is a God of Ice. The shrine's name translates to "ice room shrine," referencing ancient ice preservation practices from over 1,600 years ago. During the Nara period, winter ice was stored in special ice houses on the grounds and presented to the imperial court during summer months. This unique dedication continues today, with the shrine still visited by people in ice-related industries such as refrigeration, ice making, and freezing.
The shrine is open from 6:00 to 18:00 from April to October, and from 6:30 to 17:30 from November to March. Entry to the shrine grounds is free, and no advance booking is required. A typical visit takes approximately 30 minutes to one hour, making it convenient to include in a broader Nara Park itinerary.
The shrine offers a distinctive fortune-telling experience for 200 yen. Visitors purchase a special paper that appears blank initially, but when placed on ice provided by the shrine, the fortune gradually appears as the paper absorbs the melting ice. The words slowly fade again as the paper dries, creating an interactive experience tied to the shrine's ice deity theme. This unique omikuji is particularly popular with children and makes for a memorable cultural activity.
The shrine hosts the Kenpyosai ice festival annually on May 1, featuring large ice offerings and prayers for business success from ice industry workers. The Himuro Shirayuki Shaved Ice Festival takes place in March, showcasing famous shaved ice vendors from across Japan. The shrine grounds feature beautiful weeping cherry blossoms from late March to early April. Additionally, on the first day of each month, crystal clear ice lanterns with burning candles illuminate the pathways from sunset to approximately 21:00.
From June 15 to September 15, visitors can request a bowl of shaved ice to serve the God of Ice between 9:00 and 17:00. You place the offering on a wooden platform before the shrine, pray for assistance, and then consume the ice afterward. The shrine provides complimentary sugar water to pour over the shaved ice. This seasonal tradition allows visitors to participate directly in the shrine's ice worship customs while enjoying a refreshing treat during the summer months.
