Kotohira Cultural Spots Tour

Known as “Konpira-san,” Kotohira-gu Shrine is situated halfway up Mt. Kotohira (Mt. Zozu).

The shrine is said to have been there for nearly 3000 years now, according to old books such as “Tamamo-shu” published in 1677 (Enpo 5) and “Sanshu-fushi” compiled by Kikuchi Takemasa in 1745 (Enkyo 2).

In the Middle Ages, under the influence of the Honji-suijaku theory – emphasizing that Shinto deities are the manifestations of Buddhist divines – the name was changed to Konpira-Dai-Gongen. In 1165 (Eiman 1), the deified spirit of Emperor Sutoku was enshrined here.

However, in July 1868, the first year of the Meiji Era, by a decree of ordering the separation of Shintoism and Buddhism, it was restored as a Shinto shrine named “Kotohira-gu” Shrine, which is still the shrine’s present name.

The shrine enshrines the main deity, Omononushi-no-Kami, and Emperor Sutoku. Omononushi-no-Kami has three aspects: a younger brother of Amaterasu-Omikami, a son of Takehaya-Susano-no-Mikoto, and a deity of Okuninushi-no-Kami’s Nigi-mitama, the gentle and peaceful nature of Shinto deities.

As a deity bringing a wide range of divine benefits, including agriculture, industry, fisheries, voyages, medicine, and arts, Okuninushi-no-Kami is sincerely worshipped by people throughout the country.

Omote-shoin is said to have been built during the Manji Era (1658-1660), featuring irimoya-zukuri (a hip-and-gable roof) and hiwada-buki (cypress bark roofing).

Omote-shoin is a former guest hall used by Betto Konkoin, the chief administrator who served Konpira-Dai-Gongen, as a reception place for people visiting for worship or attending various ceremonies.

The building itself as well as murals of five distinct rooms created by a distinguished artist, Maruyama Okyo, are designated as National Important Cultural Properties. All of the Maruyama Okyo’s murals are masterpieces of his later years, from Tenmei to Kansei Eras (1781-1795), said to have been produced in Kyoto with the financial support of the Mitsui family.

In addition, Murata Tanryo, a history painter in the Meiji Era, depicted the murals of another two distinct rooms in the Omote-shoin.

There are many udon noodles restaurants around the Omote-sando (the main road approaching the Kotohira-gu Shrine).
We recommend visiting a variety of udon restaurants in order to find your favorite bowl of udon noodles!

The roots of the Kinryo-no-sato Sake Museum can be found in Kinryo, an old sake brewery founded in 1789 (Kansei 1). Of the brewery’s three warehouses, the second building facing the Omote-sando (the main road approaching Kotohira-gu Shrine) was renovated into a white-walled sake museum with an authentic atmosphere of the time of its founding.

Visitors can enjoy seeing in detail how the former manufacturing facility worked and indulge in conversations about sake.

We hope that this museum will make for new encounters with Japanese culture and sake, and enable you to relax and enjoy your day!

Kotohira Onsen Onyado Shikishimakan offers a foot spa facility facing the main road (Omote-sando) approaching the Kotohira-gu Shrine.

It is the perfect place to relax and refresh your tired feet while enjoying the view on the bustling main street.

As the entire appearance resembles a “saya” or sheath of a Japanese sword, the bridge spanning the Kanakura River with a Kara-hafu-zukuri style copper roof is called Sayabashi. It is also called Ukihashi, or floating bridge, because it has no bridge girder.

Today, the bridge is used only for the Kotohira-gu Shrine’s ceremonies.

After six years of construction work by the people of the eastern Sanuki Province, the Takatoro (High Lantern) was completed in 1860.

It was built to be a mark for ships sailing in the Seto Inland Sea and designed in such a way, that the light emitted from the 27-meter high Takatoro was able to reach the vessels off the coast of Marugame.