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Atlas Obscura - Latest • Jan. 28, 2026, 5:15 p.m.
Forbidden Forest at Keta Taisha Shrine in Hakui, Japan
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In Japan, kinsokuchi or “tabooed land” is a sacred place, typically part of a large Shinto shrine complex, that is strictly off-limits to visits. One such sanctuary can be found at Keta Taisha, a 2,000-year-old shrine in Hakui, Ishikawa Prefecture.
The Irazu-no-mori, which literally means “forbidden forest,” spreads for 3.3 hectares at the back of Keta Taisha, and has been off-limits for over 400 years. Only the high priests are allowed to enter here once a year for the New Year’s Eve ritual, but even then, they are required to wear blindfolds.
Until recently, the only person who got to visit the forest apart from the priests was Emperor Hirohiro in 1983. In 2019, however, the shrine held a special ceremony allowing visitors to enter the forest, in commemoration of the enthronement of the new Emperor.
The Irazu-no-mori, which literally means “forbidden forest,” spreads for 3.3 hectares at the back of Keta Taisha, and has been off-limits for over 400 years. Only the high priests are allowed to enter here once a year for the New Year’s Eve ritual, but even then, they are required to wear blindfolds.
Until recently, the only person who got to visit the forest apart from the priests was Emperor Hirohiro in 1983. In 2019, however, the shrine held a special ceremony allowing visitors to enter the forest, in commemoration of the enthronement of the new Emperor.
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