Hiki Shrine: An Old Power Spot of Kijo Where a Baekje Royal Legend Lives On

Hiki Shrine in the town of Kijo, Miyazaki Prefecture, is a shrine of very ancient history. According to its tradition, it enshrines deities including Fukuchi-o, a royal of Baekje, an ancient kingdom of the Korean peninsula, who crossed the sea and reached the land of Hyuga.

A legend remains that a party of Baekje royals who fled the upheavals of the peninsula by ship drifted ashore on the Hyuga coast and settled in this area, and that story is still handed down as a local rite. The shrine is said to bless household safety and good marriage ties, and worshippers come from within and beyond the prefecture.

Highlights

• A great camphor tree growing in the precinct. A giant tree with a thick trunk, cherished as a sacred tree that has watched over the long history.
• A chisha tree counted among Miyazaki giant trees, one of the sights of the green precinct, changing its face with the seasons.
• The rite tied to the Baekje royal legend, the Shiwasu Festival, a grand sacred procession in which Fukuchi-o returns home to Mikado Shrine in the town of Misato, which enshrines his father, King Teika.

Enjoying the Seasons

In spring fresh greenery colors the grounds, and in summer the shade of the great trees brings coolness. Autumn offers calm visits in clear air, and the highlight of winter is the sacred procession of the Shiwasu Festival. During the festival, the sacred object of Hiki Shrine travels all the way to Mikado Shrine in distant Misato, and fantastical scenes recalling the ancient story unfold, such as the welcome fires lit along the route.

Access and Basic Information

• Location: Kijo Town, Koyu District, Miyazaki Prefecture
• Access: Easy to reach by car from the Takanabe area.
• The precinct has many great trees, so you can relax in the shade.
• The area is lively during the Shiwasu Festival, so visiting then is also recommended.

Practical Travel Notes

• Public transport is not frequent, so a visit by car is convenient. Heading toward the Takanabe area as a landmark makes it easy to find.
• The Shiwasu Festival is a grand rite usually held over several days in winter. The dates change from year to year, so it is reassuring to check Kijo Town tourism information before your visit.
• The area around the sacred tree is a quiet grove. You can worship at a leisurely pace while taking a breath on benches in the shade.
• Kijo is a mountain town rich in nature. Nearby there are also sights such as hot springs and a dam lake, so touring them together makes for an enjoyable day.
• The great camphor tree is popular as a photo spot. To capture the whole tree, it is best to step back a little and look up.

A Quick Tip

Reflect on the legend of Baekje royals who crossed the sea as you join your hands quietly beneath the great camphor tree. Visit knowing the story of the Shiwasu Festival, in which father and son deities meet once a year, and this becomes a shrine where you can feel a deep sense of time connecting the ancient past with the present. (TabiTabi Japan Editorial Team)

📚 Sources

For Hiki Shrine, the tourism guidance of Kijo Town and local origin writings are useful. The legend of the Baekje royalty, the great camphor sacred tree, and the Shiwasu Festival can also be checked in public information.

The dates of the Shiwasu Festival change from year to year. Fees, hours, and access may change, so please confirm with official sources before you set out.

Visitor Checklist

• Time needed: About 20 to 30 minutes to worship in the precinct shaded by the great camphor; resting on a shaded bench and spending time at leisure is also recommended.
• What to bring: Public transport is limited, so visiting by car is convenient; the precinct grove has much shade, and to photograph the whole great tree it is best to step back and look up.
• Suggested route: Worship in the precinct dense with the great camphor and chishanoki trees; visiting during the Shiwasu Festival, together with the procession to Mikado Shrine in Misato Town where the father Teika-o is enshrined, lets you feel the ancient story more deeply.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Location: Oaza Shiiki, Kijo Town, Koyu District, Miyazaki Prefecture (Hiki Shrine office, tel. and fax 0983-32-2854)
• Access: About 5 minutes by car from the Kijo Town Hall
• Highlights: A giant camphor tree more than 6 meters in diameter; a chisha tree chosen as one of the "100 Selected Giant Trees of Miyazaki"; and the mausoleum of King Fukuchi, 100 meters east of the entrance to the precincts (with a five-tiered stone pagoda and an information board)
• Main annual events: January 1, New Year's Day festival / late January (the Friday, Saturday and Sunday closest to the 18th to 20th days of the 12th month of the old lunar calendar), the Mikado Goshinko Festival (Shiwasu Festival) / July 30, summer festival / late October, Osato-mawari Goshinko Festival / November 4, Otoshi-kudari Goshinko / November 14, Naked Festival / early December, sacred rites (night kagura festival)

* Although the name of the Shiwasu Festival refers to the twelfth month, it is actually held in late January each year. Note that it does not take place in December. * Worship hours, the reception hours of the amulet office, parking and admission fees are not published officially.

(Sources: Kijo Town official website "Hiki Shrine")