People who make a living from forestry and hunting hold festivals at this mountain shrine two days a year. On these days, they make offerings to the gods, expressing gratitude for the mountain’s blessings. Many refrain from working during the festivals to express their utmost respect and appreciation.
Mountains bring both disasters and blessings. At Kirishima Jingu Shrine, some prayers request that any future eruptions be small in size, but no one prays for them to stop entirely. Why is that? The people believe that the mountain’s disasters and blessings are the god’s work and beyond human control. Since eruptions are also part of the divine work, they feel it is presumptuous to ask for them to stop entirely. The residents of Kirishima have learned to live harmoniously with the land, accepting nature as it is.
In 1934, Kirishima was designated as Japan’s first national park. The area has been preserved through the gratitude and reverence of its people, gaining recognition as a Japanese landscape that earns national pride on a global scale. The scenery that unfolds before you is a testament to the history and experiences of those who have embraced the volcanic presence and learned to coexist with it.
Photo 1: Yama-jinja Shrine in a dense forest
Photo 2: On the side of the road to Yama-jinja Shrine, you can see the steam from the hot springs
Photo 3: Kameishizaka (the former approach)
