Hakuto Shrine — The Sacred Site of the Legend of the White Hare of Inaba

Quietly nestled along the Sea of Japan coast in Tottori City, Hakuto Shrine is known as the setting of the White Hare of Inaba myth recorded in the Kojiki, Japan's oldest chronicle. Enshrining the hare deity Hakuto-shin, the shrine is revered for blessings related to skin ailments and medicine as well as matchmaking, drawing worshippers from far and wide. There is a mysterious spiritual energy here where the world of myth and present reality seem to overlap.

Highlights

Passing through the torii gate, visitors are greeted by a pathway lined with pure white rabbit statues. These figures recall the tale from the Kojiki in which the wounded white hare was healed by the guidance of Okuninushi-no-Mikoto, and stone rabbit sculptures are scattered throughout the grounds. Because the hare brought together the match between Okuninushi and the princess Yagami-hime, it is also revered as a deity of matchmaking. The foundation of the main hall uses a kikuza stone carved with a 28-petal chrysanthemum crest, evoking a connection with the imperial house. In the grounds is also the Mitarashi Pond, where the hare is said to have washed its wounded body, whose water level is said never to change in drought or downpour. Just beside the shrine lies Hakuto Beach, from which visitors can look out toward Keta-no-Saki, the cape that features in the myth.

The Enshrined Deities and the Shrine's Origins

Hakuto Shrine's principal deity is Hakuto-shin, worshipped together with Ukemochi-no-Kami and Toyotama-hime (Toyotamahime-no-Mikoto). The Kojiki records the line "this hare of Inaba is the one now called the hare deity," so the shrine's origins reach far back. The date of its founding is not clear. It is said that the shrine buildings were lost to fire in warfare long ago and the shrine declined for a long period, until during the Keicho era (1596-1615) Kamei Korenori, lord of Shikano Castle, rebuilt the halls following a revelation in a dream and donated shrine lands yielding 20 koku and 2 to of rice. The present main hall, built in 1896 (Meiji 29), is a variant of the taisha-zukuri style and was renovated in 2012 (Heisei 24). The shrine crest is a tortoiseshell enclosing a sword-and-flower motif, and the precinct covers about 816 square meters. The sacred straw rope on the worship hall was made by the members of the Shimenawa Club of Iinan Town, Shimane Prefecture, who also craft the ropes for the shrines of Izumo, and was dedicated here in 2014 (Heisei 26). Toyotama-hime, enshrined alongside the main deity, is the sea goddess who appears in the myth of Yamasachihiko and Umisachihiko, revered as a deity of matchmaking, safe childbirth, child-rearing, and safety at sea, while Ukemochi-no-Kami is revered as the deity who governs food.

Sacred Traces of the White Hare

Scattered around the shrine are sacred sites that let you follow the story of the White Hare of Inaba. Hakuto Beach, spreading about 150 meters north of the shrine, is said to be the ancient battlefield of the hare deity and the Wani clan. The cape jutting out at its western end is Keta-no-Saki, where the wounded hare deity is said to have come ashore. About 150 meters offshore floats Oki-no-Shima, the island where the hare deity is said to have drifted ashore; its flat rock shelf is called Senjojiki, and it is said to have a cave running from east to west. Partway up Mount Takao, above Keta-no-Saki, is Tsuetsukizaka, the slope where clear water is said to have sprung up from the mark left when Okuninushi-no-Mikoto thrust down his staff; because he longed for Yagami-hime on this slope, it also bears the alternate name of Koizaka, the slope of love. The Mitarashi Pond in the precinct is held to correspond to the "water gate" that appears in the Kojiki, and because its level neither rises nor falls it is also called the pond of neither increase nor decrease.

A Sacred Grove Designated a National Natural Monument

The wooded grove of Hakuto Shrine, spreading on the western side of the approach, was designated a national natural monument in 1937 (Showa 12) as a precious forest that preserves the form of the primeval woodland of the Sea of Japan coastal region. Standing right beside the sea and exposed to strong sea winds and blowing sand, the chinquapin trunks lean to the south and their branches spread more heavily on the southern side, giving them a distinctive shape. In the low ground around the pond, machilus trees form the canopy layer, while holly, Japanese laurel, and ferns such as Japanese lace fern and beni-shida cover the ground. Furthermore, the whole stretch of Hakuto Beach in front of the shrine was designated a national natural monument in 1922 (Taisho 11) as the southern limit of the natural range of the rugosa rose, a deciduous shrub of the rose family. That a plant which grows on the coasts of cold regions should occur naturally here in western Honshu is considered academically valuable, so this stage of myth is also a stage of natural history.

Worship Etiquette and the Annual Rites

Beyond the torii gate lies sacred ground. Bow lightly before the torii, and walk to the right or the left, avoiding the center of the approach, which is regarded as the path of the deities. After purifying your hands and mouth at the ablution pavilion beyond the second torii (as you draw near, the melody of the song "Daikoku-sama" plays), worship at the main hall with two bows, two claps, and one bow, filling your heart with gratitude. The musubi-ishi, or binding stones, offered at the shrine office were originally stones to be tossed up onto the torii gate, with good fortune said to follow if one lands and stays on top, but many people now dedicate them to the stone rabbit statues with a wish rather than throwing them, and some take them home as a good-luck charm. The rites held through the year are the New Year's Day Festival (January 1), the Spring Prayer Festival (February 12), the Spring Festival (April 16), the Great Purification Festival (June 18), the Kawashimo Festival (August 1), the Autumn Festival (October 15), and the Harvest Thanksgiving Festival (November 26). The Kawashimo Festival on August 1 is the grand festival of Kawashimo Shrine, which sits on Kamigaiwa at Keta-no-Saki and was merged into this shrine in 1912 (Taisho 1); it serves as the summer festival of the Hakuto district, with a variety of events. The Hakuto area was certified as a "Sanctuary for Lovers" in 2010 (Heisei 22).

Enjoying the Seasons

In spring the area around the precinct is wrapped in soft light, and the sacred space feels all the more refreshing. Summer invites combining marine activities at Hakuto Beach with shrine worship, as the locals do. In autumn the beautiful contrast between the rough Sea of Japan waves and the blue sky lends the shrine a dignified atmosphere. Winter brings serenity with few visitors, perfect for quiet, contemplative worship.

Access and Essentials

The shrine stands along National Route 9 beside Hakuto Beach, about 40 minutes by bus from JR Tottori Station, or about 20 minutes by car from the Tottori Interchange. The roadside station "Shinwa no Sato Shirousagi" is right nearby, convenient for a rest or a meal. Worship is free, and Hakuto Shrine is certified as a "Sanctuary for Lovers." The shrine office, where amulets are offered, is open from 9:00 to 16:00.

Access and Basic Information

• About 25 minutes by car from Tottori Station, the shrine sits along National Route 9 by Hakuto Beach.
• The roadside station Shinwa no Sato Shirousagi stands right beside it, convenient for a rest or a meal.
• Worship is open freely, and the adjacent Hakuto Beach was certified a Lovers Sanctuary in 2010.

Practical Travel Notes

• Using the neighboring roadside station as a base lets you handle parking, rest, and meals together
• For matchmaking prayers, a known custom is to place a musubi-ishi (binding stone) received in the grounds atop the torii while making a wish
• The Mitarashi Pond is a highlight tied to the myth, so be sure to stop by along with your visit to the main hall
• Waves at Hakuto Beach can run high, so watch your footing and the surf when approaching the water
• Knowing the background of the myth before visiting makes the rabbit statues and the coastal view all the more meaningful

A Quick Tip

The grounds are full of rabbit-themed ema votive plaques and amulets. If you seek the blessing of matchmaking, after putting your wish firmly into your prayer at the main hall, extend your walk to Hakuto Beach and let your thoughts drift to the world of myth.

📚 Sources

This article draws on the White Hare of Inaba myth recorded in the Kojiki, the shrine traditions of Hakuto Shrine, tourist guidance for Tottori City, and on-site information for the adjacent roadside station Shinwa no Sato Shirousagi and Hakuto Beach. The purification pond and the custom of the tying stones, as well as the amulets offered, may change. Amulets and access may change, so please confirm the latest details on the official sources before your visit.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: One to two hours for the main hall, the Mitarashi pond, and a walk along Hakuto Beach.
• How to plan: Base yourself at the neighboring roadside station for parking, rest, and meals together.
• How to pray: For a match-making wish, the known custom is to place a tying stone atop the torii gate.
• Safety note: Waves at Hakuto Beach can be high, so watch your footing and the surf if you approach the water.
• Best timing: For a quiet visit, choose the less-crowded winter or the morning hours.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Enshrined deity: Hakuto-no-Kami (the White Rabbit deity)
• Worship: The precincts are freely open
• Shrine office (amulet counter) hours: 9:00 to 16:00
• Parking: 125 spaces (111 for ordinary cars and 14 for large vehicles). Shared with the "Shinwa no Sato Shirousagi" roadside station
• Access: About 40 minutes by bus from JR Tottori Station / about 20 minutes by car from the Tottori IC
• Certification: Certified as a "Lovers' Sanctuary" (Koibito no Seichi)

* No admission fee is announced on the official website.

(Sources: Hakuto Shrine official website)