It was a rainy, gray, dreary day of making worksheets and promotional materials. My toes began to fidget as I tired from my own reflection in the protective plastic cover of my desk. I needed to get out.
A 10-minute drive and I was in Echizen Town some 20 kilometers from the Sea of Japan. I knew where I wanted to go, where would be beautiful and healing on such a wet day. A hill. A hill and a stoplight. A hill, a stoplight, and a right hand turn brought me to a parking lot outside the torii gate of Yasaka Shrine.
The shrine can be traced back to 1445(2nd year of the Bun'an Era), though parts of it were rebuilt in 1963 (38th year of the Showa Era). Defining features include a massive wooden torii that isn't lackered in red like you might see at so many other shrines. I've noticed that to be a rather common feature of shrines in Fukui, with Hino Shrine at the foot of Mt. Hino and Funatsu Shrine near JR Sabae station sporting them, among others.
Something that I have not seen too often is a sign marking this as one of the 100 famous places to get water in the Hokuriku region of Japan. After crossing under the final large gate leading up to the main hall, there is a small hut to the left of the stone path. Inside you'll find a well from which water can be taken to wash your hands before using the shrine. I'm a little uncertain if you can take some to drink, but the sign reads "life-extending water," and one would assume those are the effects when you drink it, so...
The shrine itself seems to have a level of recognition due to its history and the aforementioned water, but everytime I've visited I'm the only one there. I don't know that it has much popularity as a tourist spot as many others do, but as a local shrine to go and be invigorated by the architecture and all the green across all seasons, it is a place that will remain often visited by me.
Find more pictures from this trip and other adventures around Hokuriku over on Instagram.
Do you ever see the caretaker/priest at these shrines? Have you ever spoken to one of them about the site itself? I think these places are magical to say the least.