Nara’s Ōmiwa Shrine: A Venerable Place of Mountain Worship

Mount Miwa rises gently above Nara rice fields.

The Mount Miwa trailhead.

The three torii gates to Hibara Shrine, an auxiliary shrine of Ōmiwa Shrine.

The sugidama cedar ball is hung out under the eaves at breweries—and often at Japanese bars serving sake—to signal that a new brew is ready.