🌸 Noire Henro-san: Oyamazumi Shrine – Omishima

Tatara Bridge (Tatara Ohashi) to Omishima island on the Nishiseto Expressway (Shimanami Kaidō).

Believe your own magic

I

f you got on the wrong train without the ability to disembark and wind up in the mountains instead of at the seashore as you intended, would you be disappointed? What if you found yourself enjoying lovely views on a sacred mountain, a shrine considered a power spot, or a patio barbecue in a pseudo-tropical setting with new friends, and a beautiful sunset? There is always a way to appreciate what you have.

Now you might be disappointed about not getting what you wanted but there is something magical in it… if you open your eyes.

One’s Destination Is Never A Place But A New Way Of Seeing Things.

I say this all the time. Often my belief in that mantra is tested. Most often it proved true.

In my last post, I explained how I ended up here in Omishima.

The island hideaway

I got off the bus at the main stop in town. It is next to the art museum and across the street from Oyamazumi shrine.

I started walking to the guest house. I got turned around a little bit but regained my bearings. Luckily, I found the steep mountain road leading to the house. It was a long walk through the neighborhood. Finally, I reached the house at the top of a ridge.

Reggae music was playing when I entered. My host gave me a tour of the place. He showed me my room, the kitchen, bath and shower area and the patio. It had a blended Hawaiian and Caribbean island vibe. That is where the magic happens!

I will talk about this soulful accommodation in the next post.

Island of God

Omishima is one of the inhabited islands of the Geiyo Islands belonging to Imabari City. It is known as the Island of God.

Located on the west coast of Ōmishima Island is Oyamazumi Shrine. It is situated at the western foot of Mt. Washigatou which is considered a sacred mountain.

Oyamazumi Shrine

The next day I walked down the mountain to the center of town to visit the shrine.

Oyamazumi Shrine, built about 2,600 years ago, is a power spot located in the center of Omishima, It is the only Grand Shrine in the Shikoku region. Importantly, it is the head shrine of a network of over 10,000 shrine branches throughout Japan.

The shrine gate.

The Nio guardians are dressed in sculpted samurai armor and poised for battle.

The old camphor trees on shrine grounds are meticulously maintained.

A massive sacred tree towers in front of the main hall. It is said to have been planted by Ochi no Mikoto, a descendant of Oyamazumi Okami, 2,600 years ago.

Samurai shrine

Here, Oyamisumi, the god of “mountains, seas, and combat” is enshrined. After the shrine was built, countless warriors and samurai came to pray for success in battle. Eighty percent of all armor that survived and has been designated as important Japanese cultural treasures is included in the shrine’s collection.

The National Treasure Hall that holds the armor is a separate building. It has suits of armor of historical importance.

The armor bodice that belonged to a female samurai named Ohori Yasumochi no Musume Tsuruhime is here.

The Irony

I had the shrine’s goshuin or stamp written in my temple stamp book. Although it is a notable Shinto shrine, it was once considered an important stop on the Shikoku pilgrimage trail. I discovered that the location was considered the “55th” temple. However, it was deemed that the path and its logistics were not a practical fit for the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage.

Isn’t it ironic that I found this place after all?

One’s destination is never a place but a new way of seeing things.

It truly is!

See you next time, still, in Omishima.

Baadaye and Mata ne

Shirley J 🌸

This and several posts this summer will chronicle my pilgrimage in Japan where I am walking the 1200 kilometer-long Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage. Read my announcement here.

I am excited, and I am here, still walking. And just know this, I will return to tell the tale!