Shinto ritual. Hikawa Shrine, Omiya. Two Japanese women bow as a Shinto priest performs purification ritual on their car.

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Hikawa Shrine (氷川神社 Hikawa-jinja) is a Japanese Shinto shrine in Omiya-ku, Saitama, Saitama Prefecture. Hikawa was designated as the chief Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) for the former Musashi province.[2] This main shrine has 59 branch shrines in Tokyo and 162 branch shrines in Saitama Prefecture.[3] From 1871 through 1946, Hikawa Shrine was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines. The main shrine structure was renovated in 1882. In 1940, a project financed by the government reconstructed the main shrine structure, the gate tower, and other structures. Entrance torii at Hikawa Shrine In 1976, the Large Torii of Meiji Shrine which had been damaged by lightning in 1966 was repaired and relocated to Hikawa Shrine.

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Size: 4608px × 3456px
Location: Hikawa Jinja, Omiya, Saitama, Japan
Photo credit: © John Steele / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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