Hana-no-Iwaya Shrine

It is believed to be the mausoleum where Izanami-no-mikoto, the creator of the gods, was buried, and has been revered as a sacred place that is said to be “the place where the land of Hades meets the land of the gods.” The shrine grounds, which have no shrine pavilions, are filled with a mystical atmosphere that is typical of the stage of the myth surrounding the birth of the nation and the birth of the gods. The main object of worship is a huge 45-meter-high rock enshrining Izanami-no-mikoto.
During the “sacred rope hanging ceremony” (Otsunakake-shinji) which is held twice a year, a 170-meter-long rope is passed from the top of the rock to a pine tree on the grounds of the shrine, and seasonal flowers are placed on the rope. The rope is left in place until it naturally breaks, so it is often left in place outside of the ritual, so please look out for it.