Heisen-ji Hakusan Shrine
平泉寺白山神社
An ancient shrine covered in moss, with deep cedar groves; a green hideaway likened to a moss temple, right next to the dinosaur museum.
Heisen-ji was the Echizen base of Hakusan faith. At its medieval height it was said to have 6,000 monastic lodgings and 8,000 warrior monks, but it was destroyed in the Ikkō uprising and is now Hakusan Shrine. Thick moss covers the ground between giant cedars and the stone walls along the approach, and sunlight filtering through the trees makes it especially serene. It has been selected as one of Japan's 100 finest moss gardens. The grounds are free to visit, and the former Genjō-in garden costs about ¥50. Getting there: take a bus or taxi from Katsuyama Station, about 10 to 15 minutes. Together with the Dinosaur Museum and the Echizen Great Buddha, all in Katsuyama, it makes a good one-day route. Please take care not to step on the moss.
Opening hours
Open all day (shrine office approx. 09:00–16:00)
Nearby sights
- Echizen Daibutsu
- Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum
- Echizen-Ōno Castle
- Eihei-ji Temple
- Karikomi Pond
- Ichijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins
- Maruoka Castle
- Yōkōkan Garden