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Shrine · Okayama, Okayama
Kibitsu Shrine
Shinto shrine of the Kibi plain, with a main hall from 1425 in a unique style, a National Treasure, and a covered corridor of about 360 meters; associated with the Momotaro legend.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
A look at the place
Kibitsu Shrine in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
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Discover
About Kibitsu Shrine
Kibitsu Shrine lies at the foot of Mount Naka, in the western part of Okayama city, on the Kibi plain. It is dedicated to Kibitsuhiko, a prince who tradition says defeated the ogre Ura that terrorized the region. This story is cited as one of the origins of the Momotaro legend, and the shrine is one of the sites most closely linked to the tale.
The main hall and the worship hall, rebuilt in 1425, form a single building with two gabled roofs side by side under a larger covering. This style, called kibitsu-zukuri, exists only here, and the complex is a National Treasure of Japan. The dark wood and cedar-bark roofs are clearly visible from the courtyard.
A covered wooden corridor about 360 meters long starts from the hall and descends in a straight line down the slope, following the terrain. It is the shrine’s most familiar image. Smaller shrines line the corridor, and in the hydrangea season, in June, a side garden often blooms in blue and pink.
The shrine preserves the Narukama Shinji ritual, in which the sound of a boiling cauldron of water is interpreted as an omen. The ritual is performed at scheduled times in a private ceremony. Kibitsuhiko Shrine, a similarly named site, is about 3 km away, and both are stops on the Kibi cycling route.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Best time
In the morning or late afternoon, when low light accentuates the corridor. Hydrangeas usually bloom in June. New Year’s, in the first days of January, draws many worshippers.
How to get there
Kibitsu Station on the JR Kibi Line (also called the Momotaro Line) is about a 15-minute train ride from Okayama; from there it’s about 10 minutes on foot. By car, about 10 km from the city center.
Tip
Combine it with the Kibi cycling route: rent a bicycle at Bizen-Ichinomiya Station, pass Kibitsuhiko Shrine and Kibitsu, and continue to the Bitchu Kokubunji pagoda and Soja.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Kibitsu Shrine
Is Kibitsu Shrine related to Momotaro?
The legend of Prince Kibitsuhiko defeating the ogre Ura is cited as one of the origins of the Momotaro tale. That is why the shrine is linked to the story.
What is the kibitsu-zukuri style?
It is the form of the shrine’s main hall, with two gabled roofs side by side under a larger roof. It exists only here, and the 1425 building is a National Treasure.
How to get to Kibitsu Shrine?
By train on the JR Kibi Line to Kibitsu Station, about 15 minutes from Okayama, and then about 10 minutes on foot.
How long is the corridor at Kibitsu Shrine?
About 360 meters, running straight down the slope from the main hall.
Beyond the guide
