Yahiko Shrine

弥彦神社

A sacred spot for centuries, Yahiko-jinja Shrine bears great legends of the Shinto religion. Even today, many festivals are held at the shrine and in the town of Yahiko in northern Niigata Prefecture. Nicknamed "Oyahiko-sama", the shrine is visited by over 200,000 people every year for their first shrine visit of the year. The enshrined deity is Ame-no-Kagoyama-no-Mikoto, the great-grandchild of the goddess Amaterasu. Over 2,400 years are said to have passed since this historic shrine was built. Not only is Yahiko-jinja Shrine itself a signature architectural symbol of Japan, but it is also home to the Shida-no-Otachi, the longest sword, and a nationally-designated Important Cultural Property.

Advice:
In addition to the shrine and the precincts, the Otorii gate (about 4km from the shrine) is worth seeing.

It is also possible to visit ”Mt.Yahikoyama Ropeway” on foot from here.