While Japan is famed for its ancient temples and futuristic cities, a unique shrine in Kyoto is drawing a very specific group of pilgrims: those praying for lush, healthy hair. Tired of hair loss and seeking divine intervention for their tresses, visitors are flocking to the Mikami Shrine, a site entirely dedicated to hairdressing and beauty that has become a social media sensation.
Kyoto's Hidden Gem for Hair Health
The Mikami Shrine is a unique Shinto temple located near the Torokko Arashiyama Station in Kyoto. Unlike any other, this local favourite is dedicated to the world of cosmetics, hair washes, hair growth products, and wigs. The primary draw for visitors is the opportunity to pray for beautiful, healthy, and luscious locks, seeking solutions and relief from hair loss. This fascinating concept has transformed the shrine into one of Kyoto's most talked-about hidden attractions.
Honouring Japan's First Hairdresser
The shrine holds a special place because it venerates a real historical figure. Fujiwara Uneme no Sukemasa, also known as Masayuki Fujiwara, lived during the Kamakura period (1185–1333) and is recognised as Japan's first recorded hairdresser. He gained fame for his skill in cutting and styling hair, becoming so revered that salons across Japan would close in honour of his death anniversary. Centuries later, he is worshipped as the kami, or spirit, of hair.
Unique Rituals and Viral Offerings
The worship rituals at Mikami Shrine are distinctly personal. Instead of traditional practices, devotees receive a prayer envelope. A temple priest then cuts a small strand of the visitor's hair, which is sealed inside the envelope along with prayers for hair health and growth. This special offering is then presented at the shrine, asking the spirits to bless one's tresses.
One of the most striking features is a mound of hair, comprising offerings made over time. It is believed that this ever-growing collection gathers spiritual energy beneficial for hair health. The shrine is also a pilgrimage site for local barbers, beauty professionals, and students taking national cosmetology exams, who come to seek blessings.
Visitors can find wooden prayer plaques and charms shaped like combs, scissors, and other hair-related icons, where they write wishes for growth and silky strands. For those unable to visit, the shrine even offers mail-order charms. With its unique theme and photogenic rituals, Mikami Shrine has rightly earned its status as a viral social media wonder, shared widely by travel creators and curious explorers. So, on your next trip to Kyoto, consider adding this unique spiritual stop for beauty to your itinerary.
