Itatehyōzu Shrine

Itatehyozu Shrine (Japanese: 板手兵主神社, Itatehyōzu Jinja) is a Shinto shrine in Himeji, Hyōgo, Japan. It is located just outside of Himeji Castle. It is renowned for its Single Mountain Rite held every 60 years and Three Mountains Rite held every 20 years. The shrine's rituals are related to rituals at Iwa Shrine a famous nearby shrine. It is a Sōja shrine and enshrines all the gods of Harima Province. It is a Beppyo shrine, or a shrine that is particularly notable in a certain way with a significant history to it.

It is a Sōja shrine. It enshrines all the kami of the shrines in Harima Province. Whenever a new governor of Harima Province was appointed he would be sent to the shrine to worship all the gods of the province.

Ichinomiya and Soja are not the same thing but were sometimes combined. In this case the Iwa Shrine is the Province's Ichinomiya, and uniquely their rituals are highly intertwined.

Rituals
The Itatehyozu Shrine follows a distinct cycle for its two principal rites. The Single Mountain Rite is performed once every sixty years, while the Three Mountains Rite takes place every twenty years.

This is the reverse of the rites at Iwa Shrine in which the three mountains rite is every sixty years and the single mountain rite is every twenty years.

It is said this similarity happened because the Iwa deity was invited to Itatehyōzu Shrine in ancient times through Kanjō.

Three Mountains Rite
Every twenty years, the Three Mountains Rite takes place at Itatehyōzu Shrine. This is to worship the three mountains. Iwa Shrine in Shisō, Hyōgo also holds these rites, but it does so every sixty years instead.

At Itatehyōzu Shrine, there is a week-long event. A bamboo and cloth mountain is built. It is fifteen meters high. It is placed at the shrine's entrance. A small shrine is put on top of this. Food offerings are made. These offerings include mochi.

Single Mountain Rite
The Single Mountain Rite is a festival at Itatehyōzu Shrine. It happens every sixty years. The shrine is in Ichinomiya Town, Shisō County, Hyōgo Prefecture. The festival honors Mt. Miya. This mountain is said to be the tomb of Ōnamuchi-no-mikoto.

One month before the festival, a new shrine is placed on the mountain top. A white flag is raised. The festival includes worshipping three mountains from afar. These are Mt. Takahata, Mt. Hanasaki, and Mt. Shirakura. A sacred palanquin is also carried to the river valley.