Kibitsuhiko Shrine, located in Ichinomiya, Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, is the Ichinomiya (the highest-ranking shrine) of the former Bizen Province and one of the region’s most important Shinto shrines. It is classified as a Beppyo Shrine under the Association of Shinto Shrines, and formerly held the status of a National Shrine, Small Rank (Kokuhei Shōsha), signifying its historical prominence within Japan’s shrine ranking system. In recent years, it has also been referred to as the "Shrine of the Morning Sun" (Asahi no Miya).
The shrine is situated on the northeastern foothills of Mount Kibi-Chūzan, a 175-meter-tall mountain long considered sacred and worshipped as a shintai (divine body). On the northwestern side of this mountain stands Kibitsu Shrine, the Ichinomiya of the former Bitchū Province. Both Kibitsuhiko Shrine and Kibitsu Shrine enshrine Prince Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto, a legendary figure associated with the ancient Kibi region, along with other members of his clan, reflecting their close historical and spiritual connection.
The origins of Kibitsuhiko Shrine date back to ancient times. After the Taika Reform in the 7th century, the old Kibi Province was divided into Bizen, Bitchū, and Bingo Provinces, at which point Kibitsuhiko Shrine became the representative shrine of Bizen. During the medieval period, the shrine was supported and protected by powerful local clans such as the Ukita, Kobayakawa, and Ikeda families, solidifying its role as a regional center of worship.
A unique feature of this shrine is that it is intersected by Okayama Prefectural Route 700—the Kibi-ji Cycling Road. This bicycle path passes directly through the shrine grounds, entering through torii gates on both the north and south sides and passing in front of the guardian gate (Zuishinmon). This makes Kibitsuhiko Shrine a prominent cultural stop on cycling tours along the scenic Kibi Road.
