2025.04.13

A power spot where the divine spirit springs up like a spring ~ Keta Taisha

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Since ancient times, the Keta Taisha Shrine in Ishikawa Prefecture has been said to "spring up like a spring" with divine energy, and many visitors are attracted by its mysterious atmosphere and powerful energy. This shrine, which has legends of the nine-headed dragon god and the great god, is said to be full of divine power, and is famous as a power spot that cleanses the mind and body of worshippers and boosts their luck.

Surrounded by its beautiful natural environment, the precincts not only allow visitors to enjoy the scenery of the four seasons, but also bring deep peace and healing to visitors. It is also a place that has a special meaning for many people, as it is a place where you can gain new insights and inspiration every time you visit. Now, let's unravel the charm of this mysterious power and history.

Article Contents

Noto Kuni Ichinomiya ~ Keta Taisha / Mysterious Forest and the Power of Resurrection
- A primeval forest that lives in a forest that does not enter and a sacred area
  - The charm of Hakui City, UFO and Senrihama Nagisa Driveway

Noto Kuni Ichinomiya ~ Keta Taisha / Mysterious Forest and the Power of Resurrection

(Photo courtesy of Umatsuri / Keta Taisha)

Ishikawa Prefecture Hakui City Terayamachi Ku 1-1

Ōki Kikoto

Located on the west coast of the Noto Peninsula in Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture, the Keta Taisha Shrine has long been revered as one of the shrines of Noto Province. About 45 minutes by car from Kanazawa Station, this shrine is surrounded by the rich nature of Noto, and gives visitors a deep sense of peace and vitality.

Hakui City is a land that has nurtured its own culture since ancient times, and there is a legend that UFOs appear. Its mysterious atmosphere, combined with the majestic appearance of the Keta Taisha Shrine, invites visitors to a special world.

(Photo courtesy of Keta Taisha Shrine)

The founding of the Keta Taisha Shrine is very old, and its history is said to date back to the age of the gods. It appears in literature in the Nara period, around the time when the song was sung in the Manyoshu. Ōtomono Iemochi was a poet who was involved in the compilation of the Manyoshu, and at the same time, he was promoted to the rank of Chūnagon as a high-ranking official under the Ritsuryō system. In March of the 18th year of Tenpei (746), he was ordered to guard Yue Chu and remained in office in Yue China (Noto Province was part of Yue China) for five years. It is said that in the 20th year of Tenpei, when Iemochi traveled around Noto, he first visited the Keta Taisha Shrine and was impressed by its divine majesty. This also suggests that at that time, Keta Taisha was already respected as an important shrine. Iemochi

"Before the beast of Umisachi, I pray to Shirota, I pray to you."

I chanted. This song is about himself waving his white sleeves and praying in front of the god of Keta Taisha, the god of seafood, and conveys his reverent feelings for the god of Iemochi.

(Photo courtesy of Keta Taisha Shrine)

In the Azuchi-Momoyama period, Keta Taisha was revered by Maeda Toshiie, who ruled the Kaga Domain, and successive feudal lords. The Maeda family positioned the Keta Taisha Shrine as the guardian deity of Noto and actively supported the construction of the shrine and the festival. This patronage continued throughout the Edo period, and the Keta Taisha Shrine established itself as an important prayer center for the Kaga Domain.

Hatakeyama Motokuni was a great patron daimyo of the Muromachi period who ruled over the four kingdoms of Kawachi, Kii, Echichu, and Noto. His second son, Mitsukei Hatakeyama, received one of them, Noto, and became the Noto Hatakeyama clan and became the patron daimyō. The Wakamiya Shrine was rebuilt by its Hatakeyama clan. As a valuable relic that conveys the architectural style of the Muromachi period to the present day, it has been designated as an important cultural property of Japan.

(Wakamiya Shrine Photo courtesy of Keta Taisha)

Not only the Wakamiya Shrine, but also the main shrine (Omi Kimei), the worship hall, the shrine gate, and the Setsha Hakusan Shrine are nationally designated important cultural properties, and both the shrine and the shrine gate are prefectural designated cultural properties. The precincts of the Keta Taisha Shrine are truly a treasure trove of historical buildings that attract visitors.

A primeval forest that lives in a forest that does not enter and a sacred area

The shrine protected by the Kaga clan is a national natural monument. This shrine is called the "Forest of Entry", and the Okumiya shrine is enshrined. For more than 400 years, the forest has been off-limits as a sacred area. It is a forest that even Shinto priests step into only once a year when they perform a Shinto ceremony at Okumiya. It is a virgin forest with an area of about 33,000 square meters, and there are trees that are 300~500 years old.

(Keta Taisha Shrine and the Forest without Entering, Photo courtesy of Keta Taisha)

The imperceptible forest is a precious place where untouched nature remains, and its mysterious atmosphere overwhelms visitors. Giant trees rise in the dense forest, and mossy rocks and roots of old trees create a unique landscape. In the silence where you can only hear the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves on the trees, you can quietly feel a sense of unity with nature.

In the past, it was believed that the gods descended into this forest, and in order to protect its sacredness, it was forbidden to enter by the general public. Even today, only those with special permission can enter, and its mystique is preserved.

Special prayer experience in the forest without entry (now closed)

In the past, I had the opportunity to pray in the sacred area of the "Forest Without Entry". (For a limited time, December 1, 2020 ~ February 2, 2021.) This is a special prayer that is said to have been received by the lord of Kaga, Maeda Toshiie, and his wife Matsu, and many people came to seek its blessings.

Men were required to wear formal clothes such as suits and women were required to wear suits. This is to show the respect befitting a ceremony in a sacred place.

The content was to go into the forest without entering, and pray for health and happiness by receiving energetic Ki from the gods and renewing the weakened Ki, and many people who actually experienced it said that it was exactly right.

(Hakusan Shrine Photo courtesy of Keta Taisha)

First of all, you will be asked to perform an exorcism, and while the sound of Japanese drums resounds, you will bow and applaud twice in the worship hall, and then enter the forest without entering. In the forest, private talk and photography are prohibited, and you will concentrate on experiencing the sacred air in the silence.

When you step inside, you will be overwhelmed by the power of this impenetrable forest. The body rests and feels very good. It was a cold day, but after praying, the chill disappeared from my body and I was truly energized.

It was a very valuable and grateful experience. It was such a wonderful experience that I wanted to enter the forest again and visit it.

A Shinto ritual that calls spring to the Usai and Noto

(Photo courtesy of Umatsuri / Keta Taisha)

At Keta Taisha, a special Shinto ceremony called Unomatsuri is held on April 8 every year. This is known as a festival that brings spring to Noto and has been designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.

The cormorant festival begins with a Shinto priest entering the sea and catching a cormorant. The caught cormorants are offered to the gods and used in rituals to pray for good fishing, a bountiful harvest, and people's health.

The biggest highlight of the cormorant festival is the scene where the priests release cormorants into the sea. The released cormorants flutter their wings toward the sky, and their appearance seems to symbolize the strength of life. The Cormorant Festival is a festival that prays for harmony between nature and humans, and you can feel the depth of the faith of the people of Noto.

(Snow scenery of Keta Taisha Shrine Photo courtesy of Keta Taisha)

The power of revival and the light of hope

Keta Taisha has been known as the "god of marriage" since ancient times, but it is not the only one. It is also revered as a "god of resurrection" that gives you the strength to overcome difficulties and take a new step.

It is said that the blessing will become a fortress from misfortune and give you the power to rise like a phoenix. When you are at a crossroads in your life, when you face difficulties, you will surely find a new ray of hope by visiting Keta Taisha.

The charm of Hakui City, UFO and Senrihama Nagisa Driveway

Hakui City is a land with many attractions other than Keta Taisha. It is particularly famous for its aspect as a "UFO village" where UFO sightings are frequent.

(Cosmo Isle Hakui)

The Space Science Museum Cosmo Isle Hakui, located in the city, offers exhibits on UFOs and various information on space science, and is visited by many tourists. There are also UFO-themed events and workshops where you can feel the romance of space.

In addition, Hakui City is home to the Senrihama Nagisa Driveway, the only one in Japan where you can drive on the sandy beach by car. The exhilaration of running along the edge of the waves on a sandy beach with a total length of about 8 km is a special experience that cannot be experienced anywhere else. At dusk, you can watch the beautiful sunset sink into the horizon, creating a romantic atmosphere.

(Senrihama Nagisa Driveway)

Summary: A trip to heal your mind and body in the sacred land of Noto

Keta Taisha is a sacred place in Noto, surrounded by ancient history and rich nature. Stroll through the sacred precincts, visit the historic buildings, and most of all, feel the power of God, which will heal your body and mind.

When it's time to go out, be sure to visit the Keta Taisha Shrine to revitalize and revive yourself! Combine it with nearby sightseeing spots such as the UFO legend of Hakui City and the Senrihama Nagisa Driveway, and enjoy the charm of Noto. It's a trip you'll never forget.

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