Hijiri Shrine

History and Divine Virtue

In 708, native copper was discovered here in Kurotani — the first such find in Japan — and presented to the imperial court. The era name was changed to Wado ("Japanese copper"), and the discovery led to the minting of the Wado Kaichin, Japan's first circulating coinage. Hijiri Shrine is said to have been founded to commemorate this auspicious event. It enshrines Kanayamahiko no Mikoto, deity of mines, together with Kuninotokotachi no Mikoto, Ohirume no Muchi no Mikoto, and Kamuyamato-Iwarebiko no Mikoto, with Empress Genmei (Genmei-kane no Mikoto) later enshrined alongside them. From this origin in the birth of money, the shrine is affectionately called Zenigami-sama — the deity of coins — and worshippers come without cease to pray for rising fortune, lottery luck, and business capital. The sanctuary, though modest in scale, preserves architecture of the mid-Edo period. A mountain path along the stream behind the shrine leads to the Wado Ruins, said to be the open-cut site where the copper was mined, marked by a five-meter monument in the shape of a Wado Kaichin coin.

Visiting Notes

• Combine your visit with a walk to the nearby Wado Ruins, with its open-cut copper mining site and giant monument.
• Amulets modeled on the Wado Kaichin and other coin-themed offerings are popular.
• The shrine is within walking distance of Wado-Kuroya Station, making it easy to pair with central Chichibu.

Deities and Location

Enshrined Deities

Kanayamahiko no Mikoto, Kuninotokotachi no Mikoto, Ōhirume no Muchi no Mikoto, Kamuyamato-Iwarebiko no Mikoto, Genmei-kane no Mikoto

Location

埼玉県秩父市黒谷 (Saitama)

Access

About 5 minutes on foot from Wado-Kuroya Station (Chichibu Railway)

Lineage

Wealth & Prosperity

Visiting hours, goshuin (shrine stamps), and festival dates change; please confirm the latest information through each shrine's official announcements. If you find an error in this entry, we would be grateful if you let us know.