Hello, fellow travel lovers！
This time, I visited Oosugi Shrine in Ibaraki Prefecture, a place I especially wanted to see during the Year of the Horse.
Oosugi Shrine is sometimes described as “Japan’s most colorful and quirky shrine.”
My main reason for visiting was a tree trunk that looks like a horse.
Does it really look like one?
I went to find out for myself!
Tengu and a Colorful Torii Greet You Right Away
The first torii gate stands right beside an intersection.
Next to it is a tengu with an incredible presence!
Right from the start, you can tell this isn’t your average shrine.
This is Kanai Tengu.
And this one is Negai Tengu.
Even their names make you feel like your wishes might come true.
The second torii gate is surprisingly green!
Even the pillars are decorated with patterns, making it wonderfully colorful.
Next, I passed through the shrine gate, which has the cheerful atmosphere of a Japanese festival.
By coincidence, I visited on an Ichiryū Manbaibi, one of Japan’s lucky days.
The name comes from the idea that a single grain of rice can multiply into ten thousand, so it is considered an auspicious day for starting something new.
I didn’t plan it that way, but it still made me happy♪
From the Kirin Gate to the Colorful Main Shrine
Walking farther in, I came to the impressive Kirin Gate.
The Oosugi-den main shrine building is also beautifully colorful and magnificent.
Next, I found the torii gate of Okuni Shrine.
Even the patterns on the pillars look wonderfully auspicious!
Here, I decided to try my luck with an omikuji fortune.
I chose one shaped like a gold koban coin—it certainly looked like it might bring me a fortune!
And the result was…
Daikichi — Great Blessing!
A very good sign♪
Searching for the Horse-Shaped Tree!
Feeling lucky, I headed farther into the shrine grounds to find the main attraction of my visit.
I was looking for the tree trunk said to resemble a horse.
And there it was!
This is…
Definitely a horse!
It has a clear face and even looks as though it is gazing off into the distance.
Seeing this horse-shaped tree during the Year of the Horse somehow made it feel even more auspicious.
Nearby is an adorable Kachi-uma, or “Winning Horse,” which is also enshrined here.
The shrine is associated with good luck in competition, and it is said to attract many horse-racing fans as well.
I was curious, so of course I also checked the tree from behind.
From this side…
Hmm… Maybe it still looks sort of like a horse?
The front view is definitely better!
Continuing on, I found rows of torii gates stretching ahead.
Wait a minute…
Was this actually the proper way to enter? 😁
Oosugi Shrine’s Famous Attraction? An Incredibly Luxurious Restroom
Oosugi Shrine even has a deity associated with toilets, called Setchin-shin.
And the restroom itself is surprisingly grand!
No one else was inside, so I took a few photos.
Each stall has its own name and its own deity.
The walls and ceiling are beautifully decorated.
There is even a chandelier! I certainly never expected to see a chandelier in a shrine restroom.
It was so elegant that I found myself thinking,
“I really must keep this restroom nice and clean.”
I used it with even more care than usual.
And of course, I didn’t forget to leave an offering at the entrance.
There were also adorable zodiac-themed omikuji fortunes.
But I had just received Daikichi from my lucky-money fortune.大吉を引いたばかり。
Better not get too greedy, so I decided to leave these alone. 😁
One Last Treat: Yume Dango
Before leaving, I bought some Yume Dango, or “Dream Dumplings.”
From colorful gates and tengu to a horse-shaped tree and an unbelievably luxurious restroom,
Oosugi Shrine is full of things that make you stop and think, “What on earth is that?!”
It’s a particularly fun place to visit during the Year of the Horse.
If you’re looking for a shrine visit that’s a little different—and a lot more colorful—Oosugi Shrine is definitely worth a stop.
The journey continues... Wishing you all a wonderful trip!
＊＊TabiJun＊＊
