The main hall, situated behind the worship hall, was constructed during the Taishō Period. Before this hall was built, the shrine was without any buildings and consisted simply of a sacred area—often referred to as the forbidden area. This open space beyond the worship hall is believed to be a sacred area where the gods are revered. This unique practice of enshrining space without physical objects might be something special to Japan. Legends say that sacred treasures, like the Futsunomitama-no-tsurugi, might even be buried here.

In 1874, a significant discovery was made when priests excavated the forbidden area and found what they believed to be a sacred object. This led to the creation of a new main hall, where this treasured item was enshrined.

Interestingly, many shrines in Japan once did without a main hall. Prayer, at its core, is about heartfelt connection rather than following a specific form. Have you ever thought about what you might feel when standing before this sacred, untouched space?

There’s something special about the idea of fullness within emptiness. So why not take a moment to clear your mind and reflect on this beautiful Japanese way of prayer?