Visiting Shinto shrines brings all sorts of rewards! （2/2）
The gods bestow all sorts of blessings, whether in romantic relationships,prosperity in business,or through power spots that increase your fortune. Amulets that you will feel comfortable about wearing also make perfect souvenirs for yourself,family,or friends.Here we present a selection of shrines from among the prestigeous shrines in the Kansai region that that we think you will enjoy visiting and that we think will surprise you.
Fushimi Inari Taisha, which was chosen last year as the number one sightseeing spot in Japan enjoyed by foreign tourists, is believed to ensure prosperous business and bumper crops.The reason for its great appeal is its 1000 vermillion red torii gates. Without a doubt,every visitor will be stunned by the one thousand gates,which is a fantastic number.
As you walk along the approach to the shrine,the huge tower gate starts to have a massive presence.
Standing in front of the tower gate are two fox statues,who are the messengers of the great god Inari.The fox on the left holds a key in its mouth.
The fox on the right holds a jewel in its mouth.
The main hall, built in the gokensha style, was constructed 500 years ago. Many of the buildings in the grounds, including the main hall, have been designated as important national cultural treasures.
Okunoin, which lies beyond the 1000 torii, features rows of votive tablets representing the foxes. Each of them has been illustrated with a fox with a unique face.
The standard amulets for successful business and fox amulets for improving one's fortune (800 yen each).
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Address: 68 Fukakusa Yabunouchi-cho, Fushimi Ward
Access: Just outside JR Inari Station; approx. 7 mins. walk from Inari Taisha Stop,
City Bus; approx. 5 mins. walk from Fukushimi Inari Station, Keihan Main Line
Opening hours: 24 hours
Staff hours: 7:00-18:00
Mikami Shrine stands right beside a bamboo grove that is a sightseeing spot in Arashiyama, Kyoto. It is Japan's one and only shrine dedicated to hair. Japan's first hairdresser (which equates to a barber these days) deity is honored here. Hence, this shrine is visited by many worshippers from the hairdressing industry. The shrine is a place for worship for people suffering from troubles with their hair.
The hall of worship, where holy power is believed to pour down into the crown of the head. Hair, which protects the head, is also the god of the head, and so worshippers also pray here for success in passing exams.
While reciting their wishes, worshippers cut their own hair. They place their hair in a bag and offer it to the shrine.
The hair mound where cut hair is offered to the shrine. Each day the priest offer prayers for the dedicated hair.
Votive tablets are filled with wishes for passing the national hairdressing exam or wishes for help by people who are experiencing problems with their hair.
Mikami Shrine
Address: 10-2 Sagaogurayama Tabuchiyamacho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto
Access: 15 mins. walk from Saga-arashiyama Station,
San'in Line; 10 mins. walk from Arashiyama Station,
Keifuku Arashiyama Line; 20 mins. walk from Hankyu Arashiyama Station; right by Torokko Arashiyama Station
Opening hours: 24 hours
Staff hours: 10:00-15:00
Days off: no scheduled days off
Kyoto's Matsuo Taish, which enshrines the deity of sake production, has attracted many faithful since the old days. The portable shrine storage house, which lies in the grounds of the shrine, is used to hold rows of sake casks that have been dedicated by sake producers from all over the country. The shrine also has a sake museum displaying sake-making equipment that has been used since olden times. This is a must-see spot for sake-lovers.
The mineral spring called Turtle Well.Mixing this water in during the sake-making process is believed to prevent the sake from spoilage.
Sake casks that are targeted using a bow and arrow. Strike the cask successfully and you receive a prize (1,300yen for two arrows).
From left to right: Amulets for sake-drinkers, sake-sellers, and sake-producers. (800yen each)
A giant votive tablet illustrated with the Chinese astrological animal for 2015 (sheep). It will be displayed until the end of January.
Matsuo Taisha
Address: 3 Arashiyama Miya-machi, Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto City
Access: Approx. 3 mins walk from Matsuo Taisha Station,
Hankyu Arashiyama Line; approx. 3 mins walk from Matsuo Taisha Mae Stop,
City Bus or Kyoto Bus
Opening hours: 5:00-18:00
Staff hours: 9:00-16:00
Namba Yasaka Shrine: a thoroughly impressive lion's head hall which will event silence crying babies OSAKA
The Namba Yasuka Shrine, with its impressive lion head stage,12meters and 7meters deep.The power and the force of the lion's gaze never fails to overwhelm viewers. The lion's large mouth calls for triumph, drinks up wickedness, and brings luck in competitions and in business, attracting an endless stream of worshippers from all over the country. The lion's eyes are fitted with lights, and it's nose with speakers.This gives the lion quite a different expression,which can be enjoyed at night during festivals.
Hand-washing area in the shape of a guardian lion-dog. Water streams out of their mouths.Lion-dogs in other areas of the site are also revered.
Votive tablets and amulets illustrated with guardian lion-dogs. The amulets ward off evil and attract better fortune.
(Votive tablets: 700 yen. Amulets: 500yen)
Namba Yasaka Shrine
Address: 2-9-19 Motomachi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka
Access: Approx. 6 mins. walk from Namba Station on the Osaka Municiple Subway Midosuji Line & Yotsubashi Line; approx. 6 mins. walk from Nankai Namba Station
Opening hours: 6:00-17:00
Staff hours: 9:00-17:00
Kasuga Taisha is home to many buildings and treasures,including the main hall,which is considered a national treasure.The shrine's 1000 hanging lanterns that surround the main hall and 2000 stone lanterns found in the grounds are stunningly beautiful. Over several hundred years, all sorts of people have come to pay their respects here, and so on closer inspection, one notices that these lanterns all have slightly different shapes. In the grounds, visitors will also find deer roaming around freely. Considered to be messengers of the deity, they are carefully protected.
At the end of the approach, the bright, vermillion colored southern gate, which, at 12 meters, is the tallest in Kasuga Taisha. One can enter the galleries from here.
On the southern side of the main hall is the Meoto Daikokusha, the only place in Japan to enshrine married deities. It is fortuitous for matchmaking and a peaceful marriage.
The deity is said to have ridden on a white deer and visited the Nara area, and so deer are considered messengers of the deity. Votive tablets and oracles featuring deer are available at Kasuga Taisha.
Wooden oracle sticks decorated with deer motifs (500 yen).
White deer oracles made from porcelain (600 yen)
Deer-shaped votive tablets (800 yen each)
Kasuga Taisha
Address: Kasugano-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
Access: Approx. 25 mins. walk from Kintetsu
Nara Station; immediately by Kasuga Taisha Hondo stop, Nara Kotsu Bus,
from JR Nara Station
Opening hours: 6:30-17:00 (until March)
Staff hours: 8:30-16:30
◎ In February, during the Lantern Festival, the 2000 stone lanterns on the site and the 1000 hanging lanterns in the building are lit up.
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