Murayama Sengen-jinja Shrine

Once Mt. Fuji's volcanic activity subsided around the 12th century, people such as Matsudai began to conduct ascetic training on the mountain. This expanded, and in the beginning of the 14th century the religion Shugen-do practiced on Fujisan was formed. Murayama Sengen-jinja Shrine (also called Koho-ji) was at the center of this. Until the late 19th century, Shugen-do practitioners managed the Omiya-Murayama Ascending Route.Passing under the torii gates and climbing the stairs towards the shrine itself, there is the second torii gate. There one cannot help but notice the magnificent gingko tree that stands at the top of the rise. The tree marks a location used by climbers and holy men to spiritually cleanse their bodies, and visitors can see in the main hall the evidence of artifacts from religious teaching that used to take place, such as the placards used by priests-in-training. Inside the shrine grounds is a Dainichido Hall, which marks the close links between Shinto and Buddhism, as well as a sacred tree – a magnificent cedar – which points the way to heaven. In front of the main hall is the altar shrine and past that is a torii gate that rejoins the path.