Religious Customs
Haku-san Cult
Mt. Haku (2,702m), straddling the three prefectures of Ishikawa, Fukui, and Gifu, is one of Japan’s three most sacred mountains (along with Mt. Fuji and Mt. Tate), and has built up a cult since ancient times. Because the Nagataki Hakusan Shrine (formerly known as Hakusan Chugu Choryu Temple) in present Gujo City (Mino Region) used to own a manor house in Takayama, the Haku-san Cult was able to build up its number of followers in that city as well.
The Nagatake Hakusan Shrine was a ‘banba’ or ashram for worshippers, and is now predominantly used as a starting point for worshippers wishing to ascend the sacred mountain.