hiraoka-jinja

Hiraoka Shrine in Higashiosaka City is the most important shrine of the former Kawachi Province, with origins said to date back to before the Common Era, making it one of Japan's most ancient sanctuaries.

The shrine honors Amenokoyane-no-mikoto and Himemikami, and is known as the original shrine that gave birth to the famous Kasuga Taisha in Nara.

Beloved locally as the "Deity of Purification," the shrine offers blessings for protection from misfortune, family safety, and good fortune. The unique annual "Oshima-kake Shinji" ceremony in December features the distinctive "Laughter Ritual" where people purify themselves through joyful laughter, drawing visitors from across Japan to this one-of-a-kind spiritual experience.

Nestled in the nature-rich foothills of Mount Ikoma, the shrine is surrounded by pristine air that seems to purify both body and soul, offering visitors a profound sense of spiritual cleansing.