2024 is the Year of the Dragon. 10 Best "Dragon in the Chozuya" Shrines to Enjoy at the Shrines of Okayama

1. Dodo Shrine, Kasaoka City

Perhaps it's because it's a shrine that enshrines a white snake. The dragon god has a strong coiled look. He has a very handsome and gentle face. Dotsu Shrine enshrines Sarutahiko-no-Mikoto, the great god of path-opening who guides all things in a good direction, as its main deity. When you are starting something new. When you get lost. It might be a good idea to visit.

[Doudou Shrine]

Address: 1389 Yokoshima, Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 086-567-0007

Doudou Shrine | Matatabi Kasaoka.

2. Furai Kannon-in Temple/ Kurashiki City

The dragon god looked surprised. This ancient temple is famous for granting safe childbirth and fertility, and is also home to the Seven Lucky Gods, Manjusri Bodhisattva, Jizo, and the Thirty-three Kannon stone towers. There are many places to worship in the spacious grounds. The 300-year-old black pine tree is also magnificent.

Please follow the posted instructions for washing your hands carefully so as not to startle the dragon god.

[Fusai Kannon-in Temple]

Address: 820 Nakaobie , Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 086-425-2334

Fuarai Kannonji Temple Official Website

3. Yuka Shrine, Kurashiki City

The dragon god at Yuga Shrine is, for some reason, comically cute with a two-headed body! There is also an octopus god in the shrine grounds. There are also Bizen Pottery lion dogs. Yuga Gongen is said to always grant requests. It is a familiar sacred mountain that has been visited by many worshippers since ancient times. [Yuga Shrine]

Address: 2852 Kojima , Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 086-477-3001

Yuga Shrine Main Shrine

711-0901 2852 Yuka Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture

Yukasan is a sacred mountain where Shinbutsu and Buddhism intermingle, with a history of over 2,000 years. The main shrine has its origins in the Iwakura faith, and later prospered as a place of prayer for the imperial court, and during the Edo period under the protection of Ikeda Kō, the lord of Okayama. It is widely known as the head temple for warding off evil spirits, and there are 19, 25, 33, 42, and 61 stone steps leading from Omotesando to warding off evil spirits. It is crowded with over 350,000 worshipers every year on the first three days of the New Year. Since ancient times, the ``ryo mairi'', which involves visiting both Mt. Yuka and Konpira-san (Kagawa Prefecture), has been actively held, and the area along the approach still retains the atmosphere of a temple town from bygone days.

4. Shizutani Shrine, Bizen City

"You don't have to think too hard about it," he says gently, like a teacher. He's a friendly dragon god.

Just as you would expect from the dragon god of Shizutani School, the world's oldest school for ordinary people, he has a low threshold, opens his doors, and welcomes visitors.

[Shizutani Shrine]

Address: 784 Shizutani, Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture (on the grounds of the Old Shizutani School)

TEL: 086-967-1436

Opening hours: 9:00-17:00

Closed: New Year's holiday

Admission fee: 400 yen for adults, 100 yen for elementary and junior high school students, 200 yen for those 65 and over

Former Shizutani School

705-0036 784 Shizutani , Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture

In 1670, Ikeda Mitsumasa, the feudal lord of Okayama, founded Japan's first "public school for the common people." Built deep in a valley, the school was named Shizutani School. Many capable leaders who would go on to shape Japan's history came from here. The stately lecture hall with its gabled roof is worthy of being called the "Hall of Learning." It has been designated a national treasure. The area is dotted with facilities designated as important cultural properties by the nation, including the shrine where a statue of Confucius, the father of Confucianism, is enshrined. In 2015, it was recognized as the first Japan Heritage Site along with the "Special Historic Site of the Former Kodokan (Ibaraki Prefecture)," "Historic Site of the Ashikaga School (Tochigi Prefecture)," and "Historic Site of Kan'i-en (Oita Prefecture)" as "Educational Heritage Sites of Early Modern Japan - The Source of the Spirit of Learning and Etiquette."

5. Saihoin Temple/ Bizen City

At Saihoin, famous for its hydrangeas, the delicate fingers of a hawk are spread out as if playing the piano. At the foot of the sacred mountain, Kumayama, with its mountain streams and hydrangeas, the sensitivity of the dragon god (the guardian deity of water) seems to be sharpened.

[West Court]

Address: 995 Ouchi , Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 086-966-9619

West Temple

6. Okita Shrine, Okayama City

The dragon god at Okita Shrine on the banks of the Hyakken River is as impressive as a Hannya mask!

A dragon has 81 scales, and it is said that if you touch the upside-down scales (reverse scales) under the chin, the dragon will go into a raging demonic rage. Golden shachihoko and golden plaques. Good luck with money, prosperity in business, etc. Let's pray to the guardian deity of Okinita.

[Okita Shrine]

Address: 411 Okimoto, Naka Ward, Okayama City Prefecture

TEL: 086-277-0196

Okita Shrine

7. Saijo Inari, Okayama City

The sense of dynamism is simply amazing! This dragon god was created by an artisan. It is truly one of the three major Inari shrines in Japan, Saijo Inari. It has a dynamic shape. The dragon god is said to cut off bad relationships with his tail. The gods of severing relationships (both visits) are also very reliable. He is also holding tightly the jewel of the Eight Great Dragon Kings, who control water. It looks like he will grant you great benefits.

[Saijo Inari ]

Address: 712 Takamatsu Inari, Kita Ward, Okayama City Prefecture

TEL: 086-287-3700

Saijo Inari

701-1331 712 Takamatsu Inari, Kita Ward, Okayama City Prefecture

One of Japan’s three top Inari temples, featuring an enormous torii 27.5 m tall! Saijo Inari, founded more than 1,200 years ago, is one of Japan’s three top Inari . A temple in reality, Saijo Inari includes an enormous torii (Grand Torii) and resembles a shrine while devoting itself to both gods and Buddha. Believed to grant wishes including for business prosperity and domestic safety, the temple is filled to capacity during the New Year holiday, making it to most popular temple in Okayama Prefecture. With the En no Massha shrine existing for the good graces of marriage and the adverse fortunes of divorce, visitors are encouraged to receive a heart-shaped matchmaking souvenir after worshipping and open the door to a wonderful relationship.

8. Saidaiji Kannon-in Temple, Okayama City

Perhaps the dragon god is trying to catch a glimpse of the strangest festival in the country, Eyo? He is standing on his tiptoes. Saidaiji Kannon-in Temple is actually closely connected to dragon god worship, as there is a legend that the sacred treasure, the rhinoceros horn, which appears in the temple's legend, was entrusted to it by the dragon god. There is also a dragon god on the roof of the main hall, so be sure to stand on your tiptoes to find him. [Saidaiji Kannon-in Temple]

Address: 3-8-8 Saidaiji-naka, Higashi-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 086-942-2058

Special head temple Kinryozan Saidaiji Kannon-in

3-8-8 Saidaiji Junior High School, Higashi Ward, Okayama City, Okayama...

In 751 (Tenpyo Shoho 3), Fujiwara Minatohime of Kukkasho in Suo Province (Yamaguchi Prefecture), who was a strong believer in the Bodhisattva Kannon, felt a connection with Kannon Bodhisattva and founded a hermitage in the village of Kanaoka. It is said that it began when the Senju Kannon was enshrined there. The precincts are lined with many ancient buildings, and the Sekimon, Niomon, three-storied pagoda, and Buddhist scriptures are must-sees. You can also view the inner shrine of the main hall (Gofukumado) and the Gyutamashoden (500 yen for adults/200 yen for children).

9. Hojuji Temple, Okayama City

As if it grew from a rock? As if it could soar into the sky at any moment? The swift dragon god resides at a temple a little way down the Yoshii River from Saidaiji Kannon-in Temple. The stone paving, the mountain gate, and the dry landscape garden are all very beautiful. Dreaming about dragons is said to be auspicious, signifying great fortune. Let's burn that figure into our memory.

[Hourinji Temple]

Address: 2-11-21 Saidaiji Kanaoka Higashimachi, Higashi-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

10. Shinpukuji Temple/Shoo Town

Katsumata-juku on the Izumo Highway. The dragon god of Shinpuku-ji Temple, known for the large ginkgo tree that is a natural monument of the town, has impressive eyebrows. You can almost hear his powerful roar from above the impressive water basin.

Enjoy visiting the dragon gods at the Chozuya (purification fountain) in honor of the zodiac sign for 2024, the Dragon.

[Shinpukuji Temple]

Address: 647 Katsumata, Katsuo-cho, Katsuta-gun, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 086-838-2543