Full of Autumn Energy at Mitsumine Shrine! An Early-Morning Drive for Triple Blessings

Hello, fellow travel lovers!

This time, I accompanied a friend for a thanksgiving visit—my third trip to Mitsumine Shrine.

Visited in mid-November 2025, right at the peak of the autumn colors.

During peak autumn season, Mitsumine usually has long lines with a one- to two-hour wait just to get into the parking lot!

But this time, we left at 5 a.m. and made it right at the 8 a.m. parking lot opening!

It was a quiet morning with light rain coming and going.

There was no traffic jam, but half the parking lot was already full—definitely one of those moments when you feel truly grateful you woke up early!

🍁First, we headed to the perfect photo spot: autumn leaves × giant dried persimmons.

At the entrance to the approach is “Mitsumine Oinu Chaya Sanrokutei.”

The giant dried persimmons hanging here pair perfectly with the autumn colors!

⛩The “Triple Torii Route” for Three Times the Blessings

When it comes to Mitsumine Shrine, this triple torii gate is iconic.

There’s a little ritual you’re supposed to follow here.

1. Pass through the center and exit on the left.

2. Walk through the center again and exit on the right.

3. Walk through the center once more and exit to the left.

4. And finally, enter again through the center.

And just like that, the “triple-blessing course” is complete!

🐺At the main gate, we’re greeted by guardian wolves and a fierce dragon.

Their sharp “A-un” expressions make them look incredibly dignified.

And when you look up at the gate’s ceiling, you end up locking eyes with a dragon.

🌬The “divine breeze zone,” where the wind blows only along the stairs.

After passing through the main gate, you go down a set of stairs before heading up the staircase toward the main hall.

A gentle breeze sweeps through this spot alone, making ginkgo leaves flutter—truly a mystical place where you can feel a “divine wind.”

⛩ The Stairway to the Main Hall and the “Intricately Decorated” Purification Pavilion

Passing through the divine breeze, we finally climb the last set of stairs to the main hall.

The moment we passed through the torii gate, the air felt even clearer.

On the left stands a purification pavilion adorned with incredibly detailed carvings from top to bottom.

From the pillars to the decorative beams and even the underside of the roof, the level of detail is astonishing!

And here, too, was another dragon painted on the ceiling—this one with a completely different kind of intensity from the dragon we saw at the main gate.

🎨Falling in love with the colorful decorations of the main hall

The main hall is filled with vibrant, colorful decorations!

People practicing calligraphy, gods enjoying a game of Go… every detail feels like a tiny story, creating a space that’s grand yet surprisingly approachable.

🐉The Mysterious Dragon That “Suddenly Appeared” in 2012

One of Mitsumine’s famous features is the “dragon that suddenly appeared.”

It’s said that this carving suddenly appeared in 2012—the Year of the Dragon—and its presence is absolutely overwhelming.

🙏Since we were here, we decided to receive a blessing as well.

We told the staff our two wishes at the reception desk and then had free time until the blessing began.

☕A real shrine café with a nostalgic Viennese coffee

We headed to the café while we waited.

I spotted “Viennese coffee” on the menu!

For the first time in decades!?

The nostalgic flavor with its generous dollop of cream sent my spirits soaring.

🏯Entering the main hall, we looked up to find a “flower garden ceiling” above us.

As we walked down the long corridor and looked up, colorful flowers painted across the ceiling made it feel like a sky full of blossoms.

The blessing began in a quiet, gentle voice—“Yamato Takeru no Mikoto…”—and after that, I mostly just soaked in the atmosphere (lol).

In the end, we offered sakaki branches and received our talisman to conclude the ceremony.

🍄Breakfast at Kōunkaku! Their famous “Shiitake Bowl”

After the blessing, we headed straight to Kōunkaku Restaurant for its 10 a.m. opening.

The famous Mitsumine Shiitake Bowl features a massive mushroom with the same impact as a giant “waraji” cutlet!

The dried log-grown shiitake is simmered for flavor and then finished like a cutlet, and with miso soup included, it’s just 800 yen. Pure morning happiness.

They even had a display of the impressive shiitake mushrooms used in the bowl!

I also picked up some “Kinoko” to take home—perfect for tonight’s snack!

🎁For souvenirs, *Kōunkaku* is the ultimate spot.

If you want Mitsumine-branded souvenirs, the gift shop at the Kōunkaku lodge has the best selection!

Be careful—stopping by after a blessing may boost your mood so much that your wallet gets lighter (lol).

🍶For Mitsumine-branded sake, head to *Saikan*.

If you’re buying sake, Saikan is the place to go!

Rows of Mitsumine-branded sake and wine line the shelves, making it a joy to choose.

I picked up one bottle for New Year’s *otoso*, and another chilled sake for good measure.

💞To the Enmusubi Tree & the Worship Hall

A fir tree and a cypress standing closely together form the “Enmusubi Tree,” symbolizing harmonious bonds.

On a small hill stands a statue of Yamato Takeru with his arm raised high—its presence is incredible!

From the worship hall, you can pay your respects to the Okumiya of Mitsumine Shrine.

It’s said to sit atop the peak of the rocky cliff directly in front of you, but…

Since you can’t actually see it from here, I just faced forward and offered my prayer in that general direction (lol).

I’ve now got a new goal: “Someday, I want to hike up to the Okumiya!”

⏰Before I knew it, four hours had passed!

What was supposed to be a two-and-a-half-hour visit turned into an unexpected four-hour adventure! (lol)

Mitsumine Shrine is full of discoveries the more you walk—truly a “treasure chest of power spots.”

The journey continues... Wishing you all a wonderful trip! – TabiJun
＊＊TabiJun＊＊