"One of Japan's Three Holy Mountains, source of sacred waters for 1,300 years"
Mt. Haku
Hakusan, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
Blanketed in snow for much of the year, Mount Haku—the White Mountain—has drawn pilgrims for over thirteen centuries. One of Japan's Three Holy Mountains alongside Fuji and Tateyama, Hakusan serves as the head shrine for over 2,700 affiliated shrines nationwide. The goddess Shirayamahime Okami guards the mountain and the pure spring waters that flow from its slopes to nourish the surrounding regions.
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Quick Facts
Location
Hakusan, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
Coordinates
36.1531, 136.7714
Last Updated
Jan 12, 2026
Learn More
Mount Haku was formally established as a sacred site in 717 CE when the priest Taicho made the first recorded ascent and founded the Hakusan faith centered on the goddess Shirayamahime Okami.
Origin Story
In 717 CE, the Buddhist priest Taicho Shonin (682-767) became the first person to successfully climb Mount Haku. On the summit, he encountered Shirayamahime Okami, the goddess of the mountain, whom he recognized as a manifestation of Eleven-Headed Kannon. He founded Shirayama Hime Jinja to honor her presence and established the Hakusan faith that has continued for over 1,300 years.
Key Figures
Taicho Shonin
Buddhist priest (682-767) who made the first ascent in 717 and founded the Hakusan faith
Shirayamahime Okami
Goddess of Mount Haku; identified with Eleven-Headed Kannon; principal deity of the shrine network
Spiritual Lineage
Shirayama Hime Jinja at the mountain's summit serves as head shrine for over 2,700 affiliated Hakusan shrines throughout Japan. This network extends the mountain's spiritual influence far beyond the geographic reach of the peak itself.
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