Miiwa Shrine, the gods of Hitachi Province, Part 1

Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture - A journey of mysterious and spectacular scenery created by ancient history and modern architecture

Hitachi City, located in northern Ibaraki Prefecture, may at first glance beautify as an industrial city known as the founding of the comprehensive electronics manufacturer Hitachi. However, did you know that at your feet the daunting history of the ancient earth is slept with a mysterious energy that transcends human intelligence? From Ueno Station, you will be swayed by the Joban Line express train "Super Hitachi", for about an hour and 30 minutes, looking out at the scenery of the car window, a mixture of modern comfort and nostalgia, and you will find yourself in the flow of eternal time.

Hitachi Station is a stunning station where the sea and the sky blend together

When you get off at Hitachi Station, the first thing that catches your eye is the spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean that stretches out all the way. This station building, designed and supervised by Sejima Kazuyo, Japan's leading female architect, goes beyond the boundaries of a station, and is filled with a sense of openness, just like an observation deck floating in the sea.

Sejima himself said that he was born and raised in Hitachi City because his father worked for a Hitachi affiliate, and that he had a special attachment to this area.

When you step into the aisle of the station, a transparent space filled with a lot of glass is spread out, and the sunlight reflects on the surface of the sea, creating a fantastic atmosphere. The design gives the impression of being floating in the air, and is probably due to the originality unique to Mr. Sejima.

Its beauty has been recognized internationally, and in 2014 it won the Brunel Prize, an international design competition for railways. Hitachi Station is not just a base for travel, but a special space that will brighten up the beginning of your journey, and continues to fascinate visitors.

Miiwa Shrine, a sacred mountain where gods reside

After enjoying the spectacular views of Hitachi Station, rent a car and head to Oiwa Jinja, a sacred mountain with ancient history. After about 20 minutes drive, you will see Miiwa Shrine, a quiet place surrounded by lush green mountains. This shrine has a history of ancient history as a sacred place where gods reside, and its mysterious atmosphere overwhelms visitors.

Miiwa Shrine has many legends and mysterious stories left behind. One of the most well-known stories is that when Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell looked at the Earth from space, there was one place that looked extremely bright, and when he measured the latitude and longitude of the Earth, it was the site of Miiwa Shrine. Mukai Chiaki, the first Japanese female astronaut, also said when she looked at the Earth from the space shuttle, "There was a pillar of light standing in Japan, and when I looked it up, I found it in the mountains of Hitachi."

These episodes seem to speak to the special energy that Miiwa Shrine possesses. It is said that Edgar Mitchell visited Miiwa Shrine in his later years and talked to the priest. The mystique of Miiwa Shrine, which has been recognized from the perspective of scientists astronauts, teaches us the existence of an invisible world.

The secret to the birth of the Japanese archipelago: 500 million years ago

When talking about the mystique of Miiwa Shrine, the ancient strata spread out at its feet is essential. The Earth's history is said to be around 4.6 billion years ago, and of these, Cambrian strata, about 500 million years ago, exists in the region from Hitachi City to Hitachiota City in Ibaraki Prefecture. This is one of the first places in which the Japanese archipelago was born, and has extremely important meaning in telling the history of the Earth.

In 2008, a research team of Tagiri Michio, a special specialist at Hitachi City Local Museum and professor emeritus at Ibaraki University, discovered this formation. Furthermore, in 2014, Nozaki's team reported on the age of 533 million years ago from the copper ore from the Hitachi Mines underground in the Miyata River Fudo Taki, and the date values ​​for Japan's oldest strata were updated. In the mountains from Hitachi City to Hitachiota City, Paleozoic and Cambrian strata extend over approximately 50 square kilometers, making it a valuable place where you can feel the history of the Earth firsthand.

The discovery of this formation provided a great guide to unraveling the secret behind the birth of the Japanese archipelago. Currently, there are six continents on Earth: Eurasia, North America, South America, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica, but about 500 million years ago, it is believed that the Gondwana continent existed, including South America, Africa, Australia, Antarctica.

The split of the Gondwana continent led to the birth of the six current continents, and the movement of this continent is explained by a theory called plate tectonics. The Earth is covered with hard rock slabs called plates, which are said to be moving on a convective mantle.

Following this theory, the hypothesis arises that Ibaraki Prefecture may have been connected to the area that has the same strata as the strata of 500 million years ago discovered around Hitachi City. Areas that could have been linked to are northeastern China and the far eastern part of Russia. Since geological formations from about 500 million years ago have been found in these regions, it is thought that Ibaraki Prefecture is a volcanic region at the eastern edge of Gondwana, and that this is the beginning of the Japanese archipelago.

Formation of the Japanese Archipelago, Bangaea continent and sediments

Going back 240 million years ago, Ibaraki Prefecture became part of the new continent, Bangaea, where sediments transported along the seabed and rocks transported from land were attached. It is believed that part of this was hardened deep underground by pressure and high temperatures, and became the foundation of the Japanese archipelago. Then, around 25 million years ago, the edges of the continent began to crack, and around 20 million years ago the prototype of the Japanese archipelago was formed.

The stones of the stream that flow through Miiwa Shrine are exactly 500 million years old, and the wide area of ​​the shrine ground and Hitachi City's ground are called the Taga Mountains, and are made up of 500 million years old Cambrian strata. Kabire Mountain, located behind Miiwa Shrine, is a sacred mountain that has been revered since ancient times as a sacred place where gods live, and the strata of 500 million years ago has been revered as a mountain of gods.

Miiwayama and Bire Shrine, a god residing in stones from 500 million years ago

Kabire Shrine, located on the middle of Mt. Miiwa, is enshrined with a sacred object that was 500 million years old. Its presence is overwhelming, and it appears that the history of the Earth is engraved on the rock surface, which has weathered over many years. In addition, Hitachi and Hitachiota City, there are many shrines that have been worshiped since ancient times, such as Omika Shrine, and are still visited by pilgrimage visitors from all over the country, but all of these sacred bodies and stone statues use stones that were 500 million years old.

I previously mentioned that the sacred objects near the summit of Mt. Tsukuba Shrine, as well as the sacred objects at Tsukiishimizu Shrine and Iina Shrine nearby, are 75 million years old gagarei rocks, but the Taga Mountains around Miiwa Shrine are from 500 million years old, much earlier than that. The divine bodies that are said to house God are engraved with daunting history of the earth.

Hitachi City - A journey to experience ancient history and mystery

Hitachi City is not just an industrial city, but a mysterious place that brings back the history of the ancient Earth. The beautiful design of Hitachi Station, created by Sejima Kazuyo, Miiwa Shrine, where legendary astronauts saw the light, and the geological formations that 500 million years ago unravel the secrets of the birth of the Japanese archipelago. These elements combine to bring deep excitement and surprise to visitors.

When visiting Hitachi, we recommend taking your time and strolling around. By walking through the grounds of Miiwa Shrine and touching stones from 500 million years ago, you will be able to become a part of the history of the Earth. Also, looking at the Pacific Ocean from the observation deck at Hitachi Station may give you a feeling that it is connected to the vast universe.

Hitachi City is a place full of elements that can be enjoyed by a wide range of people, including history lovers, visiting shrines and temples, and nature lovers. Please come and experience the ancient history and mystery. It will surely be an unforgettable experience that will change your outlook on life.

Shokey Hayashi

Exorcist/Radionics Technique Researcher

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Born in Aomori Prefecture in 1965, he has been suffering from troubles, illnesses and injuries caused by spiritual phenomena since childhood. However, one day, when he was 20 years old, he attended an event, had a mysterious experience at the venue, and was hit by lightning energy from the heavens, as if piercing the spinal cord from his brain, and his psychic abilities blossomed. He then began studying psychology and psychiatry, and now he has combined psychiatry and consciousness engineering. Established "Radionics exorcism" using our own radionics techniques. "It's possible to treat your fortune" beyond exorcism, memorial service, and healing.