Hibayama Kume Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located on Mt. Hibayama in Yasugi City, Shimane Prefecture. Revered for centuries as a place of worship for safe childbirth and fertility, the shrine continues to attract visitors seeking to experience the spiritual atmosphere of this sacred mountain.
The shrine is officially registered with the Association of Shinto Shrines under the name Kumano Shrine, but it has long been widely known by its traditional name, Hibayama Kume Shrine.
The shrine has a special connection to Japanese mythology. An inner shrine, or Okumiya, stands near the summit of Mt. Hibayama, while a more accessible Satomiya shrine is located at the foot of the mountain. Together, these sites form a remarkable destination where mythology, history, and nature come together.
Mt. Hibayama has an important place in Japanese mythology. According to the Kojiki, Japan’s oldest surviving historical and mythological chronicle, the goddess Izanami-no-Mikoto, one of the deities associated with the creation of Japan, was buried on Mt. Hibayama after her death.
For this reason, Mt. Hibayama has traditionally been regarded as the resting place, or misasagi, of Izanami. The mountain came to be revered as a sacred place where the divine mother of Japanese mythology was believed to rest.
The Kume Shrine Okumiya stands near the summit and enshrines Izanami. Historically, the entire mountain has been regarded as sacred, giving the area a particularly tranquil and spiritual atmosphere.
Near the summit of Mt. Hibayama, at an elevation of approximately 320 meters, stands the Kume Shrine Okumiya. It has long been revered as a guardian shrine of the mountain and is an exceptionally old shrine, appearing in historical records such as the Izumo Fudoki and the Engishiki Jinmyocho under names including Kume-sha and Kume Shrine.
Over its long history, the shrine buildings were destroyed several times by fires and warfare. Each time, they were rebuilt. The present structure was constructed in 1940 in the distinctive Gongen-zukuri architectural style.
Near the Okumiya is a mound believed by tradition to be the sacred burial place of Izanami. Because of its religious importance, the area was once treated as a restricted sacred site where ordinary people were not permitted to enter.
At the foot of Mt. Hibayama is the Satomiya, or Shimonomiya, which is easier for visitors to reach and where many people come to pray.
The Satomiya was moved to the foot of the mountain in 1673, during the Edo period. However, the shrine buildings were destroyed by a major fire in 1935.
The present buildings were reconstructed in 1944, during World War II, and feature the Shinmei-zukuri architectural style, which is relatively uncommon in the San’in region.
Visitors who do not have enough time or physical strength to climb to the Okumiya can still pay their respects and offer prayers at the Satomiya.
The principal deity, Izanami-no-Mikoto, is regarded in Japanese mythology as a mother goddess who gave birth to numerous deities. Because of this association with motherhood and birth, she has long been worshipped as a guardian deity of fertility, safe childbirth, and child-rearing.
Even today, visitors come from many parts of Japan to pray for a safe pregnancy and childbirth. The shrine is particularly meaningful to women and families.
The mountain path leading to the Okumiya is approximately 1 kilometer long and climbs through the forest. An old tradition says that if a pregnant woman complained while making the ascent, she would experience a difficult birth. According to local tradition, women in earlier generations therefore made the pilgrimage with determination and patience.
Mt. Hibayama is home to a rare plant known as Inyo-chiku, or Yin-Yang Bamboo. This unusual bamboo has stems resembling male bamboo while producing leaves similar to those of dwarf bamboo. It is designated as a Natural Monument of Shimane Prefecture.
According to legend, when Izanami climbed the mountain during childbirth, she planted the walking stick she was carrying into the ground. The stick is said to have taken root and eventually grown into the bamboo seen on the mountain today.
Inyo-chiku is also scientifically unusual and is carefully protected as a distinctive natural heritage of Mt. Hibayama.
Within the shrine grounds is a mysterious stone known as Tamakakaeishi, or the “Jewel-Holding Stone.” A round hole can be seen in the stone, and it has traditionally been regarded as a sacred stone with spiritual significance.
According to local tradition, people who have difficulty having children can touch the stone and pray to Izanami. The prayer is said to bring the blessing of a healthy child and a safe birth. As a result, the stone has become an important place of prayer for visitors seeking the blessing of children.
Mt. Hibayama is also home to a well known as the Chinchin Well. According to tradition, the name came from a “chinchin” sound that was once heard when water emerged from the well.
Local tradition says that children bathed in this water as their first bath would grow up healthy and strong. The well is now covered for safety reasons, but its connection with childbirth and child-rearing continues to be remembered as part of the mountain’s folklore.
Mt. Hibayama was formed by volcanic activity approximately 1.3 million years ago and contains extensive deposits of basalt.
Near the foot of the mountain, visitors can see basalt columnar joints, a natural phenomenon in which basalt rock breaks into distinctive hexagonal columns. The formations are considered among the more impressive examples of their kind in Japan.
The bedrock of the mountain is also said to retain traces of ancient geomagnetic activity. In some locations, traditional accounts report that a compass may fail to point in the correct direction.
These unusual natural features may have contributed to Mt. Hibayama’s long-standing reputation as a mysterious and sacred mountain.
Mt. Hibayama has been revered by powerful local families since ancient times. During Japan’s Warring States period, it was also strongly supported by the Amago clan.
Amago Tsunehisa is traditionally said to have supported the development of shrine buildings and related facilities and to have donated lands as sacred territories. His patronage helped protect the religious importance of the mountain.
At the same time, Mt. Hibayama was not only a place of worship. During the Warring States period, it served as an important strategic location supporting Gassan Toda Castle, with routes through the area used to transport provisions and weapons.
The mountain’s religious and historical roles have both been passed down through generations, contributing to the unique character of the shrine today.
Hibayama Kume Shrine is located in the easternmost part of Shimane Prefecture, close to the border with Tottori Prefecture. Although the area is not particularly easy to reach by public transportation, its relative seclusion helps preserve the peaceful natural environment surrounding the shrine.
The route to the summit has been developed as a hiking trail, allowing visitors to experience the forest and mountain scenery along the way. At viewpoints along the route, it is possible to look out toward Yasugi City.
For travelers interested in Japanese mythology, ancient history, sacred mountains, and nature, Hibayama Kume Shrine offers an opportunity to experience a quieter and more traditional side of Shimane.
From JR Yasugi Station: Approximately 40 minutes by bus.
By car: Approximately 25 minutes from the Yasugi Interchange via the road toward Hakuta.
Nestled quietly among the mountains, Hibayama Kume Shrine is a special place where visitors can encounter the world of Japanese mythology while enjoying the surrounding natural landscape.
A visit to this sacred mountain, traditionally regarded as the resting place of the mother goddess Izanami, offers a chance to slow down, reflect, and experience the deep connection between mythology, faith, history, and nature that has shaped the region for centuries.