Cradle of the Warrior and the Star People

High in the forested mountains north of Kyoto lies Kurama Shrine, a site steeped in myth, mystery, and the scent of ancient cedar. While it's famously known as the training ground of the legendary warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune, that’s only half the story. What many visitors don’t realize is that Kurama Shrine is also home to a more celestial secret: the worship of a being called Sonten, said to be a cosmic energy that descended from Venus 6.5 million years ago. Yes—you read that right. This belief isn't part of mainstream Shinto or Buddhism. The Kurama Temple area, once linked to esoteric Buddhist traditions, evolved its own spiritual path. Followers believe that Sonten is a trinity of the Sun, the Moon, and a universal force of life, and that Kurama mountain emits a unique energy that connects Earth to the cosmos. Today, both nature lovers and spiritual seekers climb the mossy stone steps through towering trees, seeking not just a view or a photo op, but a kind of spiritual resonance. Whether you're into martial arts, mythology, or mysteries of the universe, Kurama might just give you goosebumps—in a good way.