The most famous in Japan! ? I went to visit Ishikiri-san at 100 degrees.

What is a hundred degrees visit?

It has been said in folk beliefs since ancient times that if you visit the god for 100 days, your wishes will come true. However, since it is not possible to pray for 100 days in case of an urgent request, it has been changed to praying 100 times in one day. Ishikiri Shrine in Higashi-Osaka is famous even in Japan as a shrine where hundreds of people continue to visit the shrine every day. On weekends, many visitors come from all over the country to pray for blessings, and the shrine is often featured on NHK, TV, tourist magazines, and various other media.

Preparing for the 100th pilgrimage

First, when you arrive at Ishikiri Shrine, bow in front of the torii gate, and then cleanse your hands at the chemizuya on the right. Afterwards, you can receive a 100-degree string at the awarding office or Sekkeikai Hall on the right side of the shrine grounds. (It seems that the Ohyakudu string is not a must-have item.)

A neatly tied hundred string. The purple color stands out.

First, we put an offering and pray at the main shrine. I hope you will listen to my request... (I hope this experience feature goes well...) As the author, I decided to ask for the safety and health of my wife.

Two bows, two claps, and one bow.

I went around

Now let's start spinning. Follow the flow of people and walk clockwise through the streets of other worshipers. Since it was my first time, I was a little nervous about whether I was doing the right thing, but it was surprisingly easy to get into the flow of people. Every time you go around, break one hundred degrees of string and count. (As an aside, I heard that it is common to go clockwise at Ishikiri Shrine, and counterclockwise at Ishikiri Shrine Kaminosha, which is located in a different location.)

About mood

I don't feel like I'm keeping pace with the people around me, but I feel like I'm naturally part of the flow. What are other people asking you to do? Are you praying for your child to pass the exam, or are you praying for your child or a relative to recover from illness? My request may not be the same, but I felt encouraged by the silent movement of those around me.

Things you won't know unless you go around it

I used to think that people who have visited the shrine once or twice were counting it once or twice, but after a while, the number of times became difficult to remember. Because there is more to think about than counting. For example, if you are asking about your health, you might say something like, ``I need to be careful about my eating habits,'' or ``I need to value time with my family.'' When I am making my 100th pilgrimage, I silently think about one thing like this. Maybe it's that time. (This is my personal opinion) I felt that the O-Hyakudu string was a guide to the number of times it had turned, and was supporting the person by telling them, ``You've gone half way.'' ``You're almost there.''

What does it feel like to go around 100 times?

I thought 100 times would be a lot of times, but I was right, it took quite a while. Since we don't always look at the clock while walking, we lose track of time. When I finished folding the 100 degrees string in half, I wondered if it would still take a long time (I was acutely aware of my lack of exercise). I continued to walk silently, and when I saw 10 remaining legs, I knew the end was in sight, and I started to feel more motivated for the 100th time.

End of rotation

After counting 100 Ohyakudu strings, the Ohyakudu pilgrimage was over. The tour ends with a visit to the main shrine. You'll be left with just the right amount of fatigue in your legs and a sense of accomplishment after completing 100 laps.

Once used, the Hyakudu string is placed in a special votive box.

time and steps

This time it took 67 minutes. It takes about 1 hour. The number of steps was 6,423. It is said that it is about 33 meters to walk around between the two Hyakudu stones, so if you walk around 100 times, you will have walked about 3.3 km. (On the day of the interview, there was a grass ring, so I may have walked around 4km in a long loop.) It was quite a walk for my lack of exercise. It was mid-June when I walked, and although the forecast was cloudy, it was very hot. I realized that it is better to keep hydrated.

I asked Mr. Ishikiri

I asked a simple question to the people at Ishikiri Shrine about the Hyakudo Shrine.

Q: Do I have to go around 100 times? “It doesn’t necessarily have to be 100 times. ``Hyaku'' does not just mean 100, but also represents a large number, so you can decide on the number of years you are or the number of times that you feel comfortable with and do 100 degrees. Yo. ”

Q: Are there any minimum manners? ``It's not a rule, but if you're going around in a group, we try not to make a loud noise. However, there is no rule to pray in complete silence. Some people walk while muttering their wishes, while others pray for team wins while cheering on each other. I hope you will pray with an open heart for yourself and others. ”

Q: Are there any things I should be careful about when it comes to clothes? ``I hope you will come wearing clothes and shoes that are easy to walk in. It will be hot and the sun will be strong from the end of the rainy season, so please be careful of heatstroke by taking breaks and hydrating accordingly. ” This time I walked in leather shoes, but I recommend sneakers that are easy to walk in!

Q: Is there a place to leave luggage for people coming from far away? ``There are lockers for your luggage, so please use them. ”

Q: Are there any days or days of the week when you cannot visit Ohyakumairi? ``You can visit anytime, but there are days and times during New Year's Day and Shinto rituals when you may not be able to step on Ohyakudo, so please check the website . ”

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask the people at the shrine. It's safe even for first-timers.

lastly

It was my first time visiting Ohyakudu, but when I actually tried it, I realized that there are many ways to spend an hour. I feel like I'm feeling better. Even if you have been to Ishikiri Shrine but have never visited Ohyakumairi, I think it would be a good idea to give it a try.

On your way back, we recommend having tea or a meal at a restaurant in Ishikiri Sando Shopping Street. After your meal, you can buy lucky snacks to pray for good health and enjoy them at home.

I can't help but wonder how people in the past would take a break after praying.

This is how I visited Mr. Ishikiri 100 times. Please come and visit Ishikiri in Higashiosaka, where worshipers come from all over the country!

access

Approximately 20 minutes from Osaka Metro “Honmachi” station to Kintetsu Keihanna Line “Shin-Ishikiri” station, 7 minutes walk

Approximately 20 minutes from Tsuruhashi Station on the Kintetsu Nara Line to Ishikiri Station on the Kintetsu Nara Line, or 15 minutes on foot.

About 5 minutes from Kintetsu Nara Line “Ikoma” Station to Kintetsu Nara Line “Ishikiri” Station, 15 minutes walk