Just a short distance from the famous Arashiyama bamboo forest in Kyoto, a unique shrine is capturing the world's attention online. This isn't a place for typical prayers about love or fortune. Instead, it's a sanctuary dedicated entirely to hair.
The Viral Discovery of a Unique Sanctuary
The Mikami Shrine recently gained global fame after popular travel creator Shervin Abdolhamidi, known as @shervin_travels on Instagram, shared his visit. His post highlighted the shrine's extraordinary focus, making it a trending topic. This is believed to be the only shrine in Japan, and possibly the world, devoted solely to hair. It addresses everything from hair growth and hair fall to bad hair days and even the anxieties of trainee hairstylists.
The Unusual Ritual and Historical Roots
The ritual here is simple yet deeply personal. Visitors purchase a small prayer envelope. A priest then carefully cuts a tiny strand of their hair and places it inside. After offering prayers to the shrine's deity, the envelope is handed back to the priest, who performs special prayers for the health and well-being of the visitor's hair. Shervin admitted to initial scepticism but found the experience worth trying—a sentiment likely shared by many curious visitors.
The shrine's backstory adds rich historical context. Mikami Shrine is dedicated to Fujiwara Unemenosuke Masayuki, regarded as Japan's first documented professional hairdresser. During the Kamakura period, he began cutting and styling hair to support his family, unknowingly founding a respected profession. His legacy was so profound that for generations, barbers and salons across Japan would close on the 17th of every month, the day of his passing, as a mark of honour.
A Peaceful Oasis Beyond the Beauty Community
Today, the shrine's appeal extends far beyond local hairstylists. While local barbers still visit for blessings and beauty students pray before exams, it also attracts international travellers hoping for thicker hair or a healthier scalp. The site features charming wooden plaques shaped like combs and hair-themed charms for visitors to take home.
Despite its proximity to one of Kyoto's most crowded tourist spots, Mikami Shrine retains a remarkably low-key and peaceful atmosphere. There are no flashy signs or dramatic displays. It remains a quiet, unassuming place where people can pause, snip a strand, say a prayer, and simply hope for the best for their locks.
