Kotohira Shrine
Visiting Konpira Shrine begins at the approach, which features a series of 785 stone steps, and requires climbing a total of 1,368 stone steps to reach the main shrine. Along the approach, you can find historical ruins and cultural heritage sites, as well as a shrine that houses art pieces. The back approach is adorned with beautiful seasonal scenery, captivating visitors throughout the year.
Konpira Shrine is located on Mount Konpira (Mount Zoto) and is well-loved as the head shrine of all Konpira shrines across the nation. The lengthy stone steps of the approach, important cultural properties, stunning landscapes, and quaint townscapes attract approximately 3 million visitors annually, and "Konpira Mairi" is considered one of Japan's traditional pilgrimages.
During the Edo period, travel was restricted for common people, but Konpira Shrine and the Rokujo Hongan-ji in Kyoto were among the few shrines that received special permission for pilgrimage, becoming a source of longing for many. This pilgrimage became extremely popular, to the extent that the Konpira Daigongen of Sanuki (now Konpira Shrine) and the temples of Kyoto were referred to as "Marukin or Kyo-Roku." It is said that figures like Kiyomizu Jirocho (Yamamoto Chogoro) and Mori no Ishimatsu visited on behalf of others, offering amulets and swords.
The principal deity of Konpira Shrine is Omotokoshi no Kami, who is believed to provide various blessings such as safety at sea, abundant catches, rich harvests, prosperous business, and recovery from illness. Emperor Sutoku is also enshrined here, creating a wide-reaching faith among the imperial family, feudal lords, and common people. Mount Zoto has historically served as a landmark for the Seto Inland Sea navigation and is cherished as the "marine deity" that prays for safe voyages.
Basic Information
- Spot Name
- Kotohira Shrine
- Location
- 〒766-850 892-1 Kotohira Town, Nakatado District, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan
- Access
- 20 minutes on foot from JR Kotohira Station, 15 minutes on foot from Kotoden Kotohira Station, and approximately 15 minutes by car from Zenzoji IC (time required to reach the stone steps entrance).
- Parking
- There is a municipal parking lot nearby (large buses allowed) - paid.
- Business Hours
- Visiting hours: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Honmaru Main Hall, Takahashi Yuichi Hall, and Treasure Museum: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (last admission at 4:30 PM).
- Regular Holiday
- Open all year round. Please note that museum facilities may close due to internal circumstances or social conditions. For more details, please check the official website.
- Fees
- Admission to the shrine is free. The museum facilities charge 800 yen for adults, 400 yen for high school and university students, and free for junior high school students and below.
- Contact Information
- Phone Number：0877-75-2121
- Official Website
Map
Detailed Information
Konpira Shrine, also known as Kotohira-gu, is a shrine located on Mount Gotosu in Kotohira Town, Kagawa Prefecture. The main deities enshrined in the main hall are Ōmononushi no Kami and Emperor Sūtoku. It has long been worshiped as the god of agriculture, production, medicine, and maritime protection. Throughout the year, priests and shrine maidens perform various festivals and rituals on the shrine grounds.
Famous features include the sacred offering of gold coins, the “Yellow Amulet of Happiness,” the “Godhead” of the Grand Festival, the folding screen paintings by Maruyama Ōkyo, kemari (an intangible folk cultural property of the prefecture), the 785 stone steps leading from the town to the main hall, and the “Konpira Dog.”
At the 1,368th step on the stone staircase, the Gonkonsama Shrine (the inner shrine) enshrining the deity Ikkonhiko no Mikoto, the founder of the Konpira faith, is located.
**History**
Known affectionately as “Konpira-san,” Kotohira Shrine's main hall is situated on the halfway up Mount Kotohira (also called Gotosu Mountain). A record from the "Tamamoshi Collection" edited by Konishi Kaharu in 1677 mentions, “This mountain has been enshrined for three thousand years.” The "Illustrated Guide to Konpira" from the Bunka period (1804-1818) states that “the great deity of Konpira has been enshrined here since ancient times, for hundreds of millions of years.”
Originally, it enshrined Ōmononushi no Kami and was known as Kotohira Shrine. Later, influenced by the concept of local manifestations of deities, it was renamed Konpira Daigongen, and in 1165, Emperor Sūtoku was enshrined alongside.
Ōmononushi no Kami is known as the deity of agriculture, production, medicine, and maritime protection, revered nationwide for its extensive divine virtues. According to “The Ancient Times of Kotohira” (1941), “In ancient times, the area around Kotohira was a coastline, and the current site of Kotohira was a fine port. Therefore, Ōmononushi no Kami utilized this favorable terrain in the governance of the land, and built a palatial residence on the mountain, making it the center of operations for governing Japan.” The shrine is said to have been established on the site of this palatial residence.
Thus, originally, Mount Kotohira was an island floating in the Seto Inland Sea, where Ōmononushi no Kami constructed a palace. It is told that the deity was enshrined at the site. Even today, many locations amidst the lush forests of Mount Kotohira are believed to be remnants from ancient times, recalling the great deeds of Ōmononushi no Kami.
Additionally, due to such origins, it continues to be widely adored as a “god of the sea.” Emperor Sūtoku (1119-1164), the 75th emperor of Japan (reigned 1123-1141), was known by his posthumous name, Akihito. After the Hōgen Rebellion in 1156, he respected Konpira Daigongen while in Sanuki Province (present-day Kagawa Prefecture) and was said to have stayed at the “Old Cage” within the shrine grounds. It is also said that he used the nearby “Goshonoi” as his temporary palace.
In the year following his death in Sanuki Province, in 1165, the spirit of Konpira Daigongen welcomed Emperor Sūtoku to the sacred ground and enshrined him as “Emperor Sūtoku.” Since enshrining Emperor Sūtoku, the divine power of Konpira Daigongen has shone even more brightly.
During the modern era, the divine power of “Konpira-san” became increasingly significant. In December 1753, during the reign of Emperor Momozono, Konpira Daigongen was designated as an official place of worship, and the following year, a decree was issued confirming it as the first Shinto shrine in Japan. From that time until the early Meiji period (1868), divine tokens were annually granted during spring and autumn from the Imperial Court, praying for the continued prosperity of the dynasty.
In this way, Konpira Daigongen received the veneration of various historical periods and became widely revered from feudal lords to the general populace. With the development of national trade routes, the faith of maritime travelers gathered around the shrine, leading to the establishment of Konpira associations across the country, solidifying its divine virtues.
In 1868, the separation of Shinto and Buddhism was enacted, restoring Konpira Daigongen to its original status as Kotohira Shrine. In July of the same year, the shrine was renamed as “Konpira Shrine,” and it remains so to this day.
