2025.04.13

Gods of Hitachi Country, Visit to the Three Shrines of Higashikoku, Kashima Walk / Ōsugi Shrine

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Awa is located in the southern part of Ibaraki Prefecture. There sits the Ōsugi Shrine, an ancient shrine that is also mentioned in the Hitachi Fudoki. After leaving the Sideaka Shrine, it took about 30 minutes to drive. Its gorgeous appearance in the lush countryside is truly a masterpiece. This time, we took a closer look at this power spot, which is visited by 500,000 worshippers a year.

Article Contents

Kashima Walk / Visiting the Sacred Land of Ōsugi Shrine and Dream Musubi
- Memories of Anba-sama, a timeless history

Kashima Walk / Visiting the Sacred Land of Ōsugi Shrine and Dream Musubi

Memories of Anba-sama, a timeless history

The history of Ōsugi Shrine is very old, and it is said that it goes back even further than Kashima Shrine and Katori Shrine. Its origin is sought in a place called Anba-sama, which is recorded in the Hitachi Fudoki. In the past, this area was a swampy area with lakes and marshes, and the island floating in it was Anbojima. And the huge cedar that towered over the island was called "Anba-sama" and was revered by the people.

This "Anba-sama" was the origin of Ōsugi Shrine and the sacred body itself. Ancient people felt the presence of gods in nature and worshipped giant trees and rocks as their replacements. The Ōsugi Shrine also follows this trend, enshrining the giant cedar tree as a god and gathering worship as a god of the protection of the sea and rivers.

As time has passed and society has changed, the faith of Ōsugi Shrine has been deeply rooted in the lives of the people and has continued to be deeply revered. People who make a living from fishing and agriculture visited the Ōsugi Shrine to pray for good fishing and harvests, and to pray for the safety of navigation. They also entrusted various wishes such as protection from evil, healing of illness, and safety in the family, and asked for God's protection.

Go through the second torii gate and go to the sanctuary

Standing at the entrance of Ōsugi Shrine is the imposing appearance of Ni no Torii. The moment you pass through this torii gate, the boundary between the world and the mundane world is drawn, and you step into a sacred space. Beside the torii gate, a huge cedar tree, which is the origin of "Anbojima", rises. Its powerful figure is a symbol of the gods who have been watching over the land since time immemorial, inspiring awe in those who visit.

The Beginning of the Protection of Shinto and Tengu and the Dream Musubi

If you go through the second torii gate and proceed along the approach, you will see a bright vermilion-painted shrine gate. This shrine gate enshrines the "Kanae Tengu" and "Negai Tengu", which are the members of the Ōsugi Shrine.

About 800 years ago, there was a shrine priest named Hitachibo Kaizo (Kaison) who had worked with Minamoto Yoshitsune. Kaizo had a huge body, a purple beard, blue eyes, and a tall nose, and was said to have mysterious powers. Through the divine virtues of the god Ōsugi Daimyo, he cured diseases, saved many people, and performed many miracles.

From its appearance and miracles, the belief that "Kaizo is a subordinate of the god Ōsugi Daimyo and is a tengu" was born. Initially, the Karasu Tengu were considered to be genus due to the appearance of the sea, but later, as a pair of yin and yang, both the Nataka Tengu and the Karasu Tengu came to be considered to be the genus.

Today, due to the miracle of the existence of the sea, Ōsugi Shrine is called the only "Yume Musubi Daimyojin" in Japan. The Nasaka Tengu is called "Negai Tengu" and is responsible for delivering people's wishes to the Ōsugi Daimyojin, while the Karasutengu is called "Kana Tengu" and is responsible for fulfilling people's wishes.

Worship hall, splendid decoration and prayer to the gods

When you pass through the shrine gate, you will see a gorgeously decorated worship hall in front of you. Its vivid colors and exquisite carvings overwhelm visitors, giving them the illusion of visiting Nikko Toshogu Shrine.

In front of the worship hall, a thatch ring is set up, and worshippers pray for a disease-free life by passing through the thatch circle to purify the sins of the past six months.

In the worship hall, the gods are enshrined, including the great lord of the world, Kushi-jade Ookami, and worshippers put their hands together to express their wishes. In addition to praying for protection from evil, eight directions, and stars, there are also many prayers for dreams (fulfillment of love, fulfillment of wishes, etc.).

Kirin Gate, a sacred gate that contains calamities

At the back of the worship hall, there is a gate called Kirinmon. This gate was built in the Edo period and was built at the location of the Demon Gate in Edo to seal off fires and other calamities. It is carved with kirin, dragons, lions, etc., and its majestic appearance overwhelms the viewer.

Kirin Gate is a gate built to seal off calamities, so it is always closed. However, its sacred atmosphere makes a strong impression on those who visit.

A break with the past and a new beginning

In front of the left side of the worship hall is the Yuniwa Garden. Many people visit this garden as a place to break the bad ties of the past and make a new start.

In the garden, you recite a spell three times in your mind and smash the earthenware. The act of breaking this earthenware means severing the bad ties of the past and breaking with the past self. Another option is to smash the pottery at the front door of your home, put the pieces in a bag, and scatter them in the garden here.

The broken pieces of earthenware are scattered in the garden, and their appearance seems to symbolize a break with the past and a new beginning.

Watched over by the god of snow and the god of the toilet

In the precincts of Ōsugi Shrine, the god of toilets, "Setsugakure-kami", is enshrined. The Yukigakure God has been worshipped in various parts of Japan since ancient times and is based on the idea of keeping toilets clean and the act of defecating as sacred.

The toilet where the god Yukigakure is enshrined at Ōsugi Shrine is as gorgeous as the precincts, and surprises visitors.

Symbol of the sacred tree Saburosugi and Ōsugi Shrine

In the precincts of Ōsugi Shrine, the sacred tree Saburo cedar towers over. It is a huge tree that is hundreds of years old, and its powerful appearance is familiar to many people as a symbol of Ōsugi Shrine.

There is a sacred air around Saburo Sugi, and visitors feel the energy and thank God for their grace.

Deliver your dreams to heaven and make your dreams come true

Ōsugi Shrine is known as the only "Yume Musubi Daimyojin" in Japan. Yume Musubi is a prayer to fulfill various wishes, such as the fulfillment of love and the fulfillment of wishes.

At Ōsugi Shrine, in addition to praying for family safety, exorcism from evil, happo, star, traffic safety, etc., we recommend the "Dream Musubi Prayer" for those who want to make special wishes (exams, promotions, business development, entrepreneurship, etc.) and those who want to have a good relationship.

Especially when it comes to matchmaking, it's not easy to be blessed with a good relationship even if you think about it suddenly. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of people who have been visiting "Yume Musubi" for three years since they were in their teens ~ early 20s, or "Shogoku" every year.

It is said that the "Negai Tengu" and "Kanae Tengu" enshrined in the Yume Musubi Prayer deliver a wish to the Ōsugi Daimyojin and make the dream come true. It is said that there is an optimal year for Yume Musubi.

Summary・Weaving dreams at Ōsugi Shrine and opening up the future

Ōsugi Shrine is a very attractive shrine with an eternal history and tradition, as well as the belief in dream musubi. The opulent shrine, the sacred atmosphere, and the presence of the tengu with the power to make dreams come true captivate visitors and awaken the deepest desires in their hearts.

For those who wish to break bad ties, fulfill their dreams, and have good relationships, Ōsugi Shrine will be a special place to open the door to a hopeful future. Please visit the Ōsugi Shrine once, feel the sacred air, and weave your own dreams.

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