Cleanse your spirit at one of Ishikawa's oldest shrines nestled on the Noto coast
2 hour private experience
Location: Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa
Offered in Japanese, with a friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in your language
Meet the Master
What you’ll do
Explore one of Ishikawa's most eminent shrines with the head priest. Learn more about Shinto beliefs and the unique history of Keta Grand Shrine. Experience worship and rituals, including a dance performed by a shrine maiden. Discover more about the forbidden forest, said to house the deities, which is off limits to all except those who serve at the shrine.
Who can attend
Children must be 10+
Availability
Everyday
Session 1 (10:00 - 11:30)
Session 2 (13:30 - 15:00)
Not available in December, January, and during festivities
Access
45 minutes by car from Kanazawa Station
Untouched Sanctity
Leaf through the pages of the Manyoushu, Japan's oldest recorded anthology of poems, and between images of idyllic nature or romantic overtures is the name of Keta Shrine, one of Ishikawa's most prominent Shinto shrines with a history thought to extend back over 2,000 years. The front of the shrine boasts sweeping views of the coastline that stretches out near-endlessly; in the back, highly sacred forests grow, untouched by human interference, into which only the head priest can venture. The gates and shrine halls, featuring intricately carved wooden detailing, have survived intact since the 16th and 17th centuries and have overseen countless thousands of worshippers gathering in prayer at the shrine grounds, while Keta Shrine's tactical positioning on the shore made it the ideal hub for international negotiation with China in ancient times. Even still, hidden relics from this industrious age wash up on the nearby beaches, collected and displayed in nearby folklore museums. Delve deeper into this sacred space, learning more about the Shinto religion and the history of Keta Shrine from the priests and priestesses themselves, and directly participate in Shinto rituals at this shrine steeper in rich and reverent heritage.
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 7 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.
