Verified in Japan

Sakurai, Nara / 大神神社

Omiwa Shrine

Also called Miwa Myojin, said to be Japan's oldest shrine. It has no main hall, because Mt. Miwa behind it is the object of worship itself, preserving an ancient form of faith; the mountain is worshipped through the Mitsu-torii (Important Cultural Property) behind the worship hall (Important Cultural Property, rebuilt in 1664 by Tokugawa Ietsuna). The deity is Omononushi-no-okami.

Last official check

26 Sept 2026

Traveler reports

0

Reports open in Phase 2

Next scheduled check

25 Dec 2026

Decide before you go

A short summary made from the official facts below. Check the rows for details.

Getting there
Train
Admission
Free entry
Entry
Conditions apply (see below)

Before you go

Only facts we confirmed on official sources are shown. Anything else is marked “Not checked yet”.

Opening hours

Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.

Closed

Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.

Admission

Free (treasure house: adults 300 yen, high school and younger 100 yen).

Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site
Getting there

About 5 minutes on foot from JR Miwa Station.

Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site
Parking

Use the free worshippers' car park west of the JR level crossing.

Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site
Payment

Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.

Accessibility

Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.

Found wrong or outdated information? Let us know

Address: Sakurai, Nara (Japanese address: 奈良県桜井市三輪1422)

Official site: https://oomiwa.or.jp/

Location

Smaller pins are other spots nearby.

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Nearby spots

Distances are straight-line distances, not travel distances.

Crowds

Crowd level

Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.

Best time to visit

Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.

Peak time

Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.

Busiest days

Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.

Busiest season

Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.

Latest traveler report
None yet

Traveler crowd data by time of day appears after 5 traveler reports (0 so far).

You can check typical busy hours in Google Maps ("Popular times" on the place's page). Open this spot in Google Maps

Visiting respectfully

Check before you go: conditions for entry

If you do not meet these conditions, you may not be able to enter on the day.

  • Mt. Miwa is a sacred mountain with restricted entry; climbing it is an act of worship, not sightseeing, hiking or mountaineering. You must register at Sai Shrine, an auxiliary shrine.Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site
  • Conditions for foreign visitors: you comprehend the teachings of Shinto and undertake the pilgrimage with a devout heart; you understand Japanese explanations completely, by yourself or with an interpreter; at least one member of your group has a phone number with the Japanese country code +81.Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site
  • Groups of more than about 10 are asked not to climb, and the climb may not be included in tours. There are days when entry is prohibited and periods when registration is suspended.Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site

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