Oarai Isosaki Shrine, Ibaraki, Japan
Built during the Heian Period, the gods enshrined in the main hall at Oarai Isosaki are Onamuchi-no-Mikoto – the god of marriage – and Sukunahikona-no-Mikoto – the god of medicine. Ever dreamed of having a Shinto wedding? Oarai Isosaki Shrine has watched countless couples tie the knot of eternal bliss.
Furthermore, the presence of guardian lion-dogs statuettes seen outside the gates of Shinto shrines are replaced by a trio of frog statues. Perhaps these frogs represent a pun on the words “kaeru” which can either mean “frog” or “return home” – wishing travelers a safe return on their journey back from a day at the beach, shrine, and sea.
Because the Oarai coastline faces the east, the Oarai Isosaki Shrine is also aligned in the direction of the sunrise. Many locals venture to the shrine on New Year’s Day to catch the first sunrise of the year.
Epic Japan Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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