[Higashiosaka City, Osaka Prefecture] Here are some tips to calm your mind: Three shrines to visit at the foot of Mt. Ikoma

What do you do when you are confused or anxious? You talk to friends and family, or read specialist books.

If that doesn't solve the problem, some people may visit a shrine to pray to a god when they're in trouble.

During the Edo period, merchants in Osaka would clap their hands in the morning facing Mount Ikoma, praying for prosperity in their business for the day, saying, "God and Buddha, I ask for your continued support today."

In this chaotic world, when you need the strength to move forward, people have entrusted their wishes to the gods, and sometimes even sought the encouragement of fortune-telling, to take a step forward. This was true for merchants of the past, and for us today. If you are feeling lost or anxious, why not take a pilgrimage to the three shrines in Higashi-Osaka?

There are three shrines at the foot of Mount Ikoma. Ishikiri Tsurugiya Shrine, affectionately known as "Ishikiri-san" and "Denbo no Kamisama." Hiraoka Shrine is where rituals are held to laugh off the misfortunes of the past year and pray for happiness in the new year. And then there's Hyotanyama Inari Shrine, which was a popular destination for merchants. Here, "Tsujiuranai," or fortune-telling, is still practiced to this day.

Why not take a trip to discover your future while visiting these three companies that have supported Osaka's merchants for many years?

Before visiting the three Higashi-Osaka shrines

Before we begin our tour of the three shrines, we would like to introduce the proper etiquette for praying.

[How to use the Chozuya (purification fountain)] The Chozuya (purification fountain) is a place where you purify your hands and mouth before praying and get ready to enter a sacred place.

First, hold the ladle in your right hand. Scoop up a cup of water and rinse your left hand, then switch hands and rinse your right hand. Then switch hands and take some water in your left hand and rinse your mouth.

Rinse your left hand again, then hold the ladle vertically to purify the handle. It is best to use a full glass of water for this process.

[Prayer etiquette] First, bend your waist 90 degrees and bow twice. Next, clap your hands twice and pray with your hands together. Once you've finished praying, bow deeply once more and leave the area.

Three-Shrine Tour ① Will your wish come true if you pray 100 times? Ishikiri Tsurugiya Shrine

The first place we visit is Ishikiri Tsurugiya Shrine (commonly known as Ishikiri Shrine). It has such a long history that some say it has been here since the age of mythology, and has attracted the faith of many people.

When you enter the grounds, you will see Hyakudo stones in front of the main hall and at the entrance to the shrine, and you will see people praying by going back and forth between them multiple times. This is the "Ohyakudo Mairi," which is said to make your wish come true if you pray to the gods 100 times.

Ishikiri Shrine is also affectionately known as "Denbo no Kami-san." "Denbo" is a Kansai dialect word meaning "swelling or growth." Because it cuts off tumors, it has come to be worshipped as the "God of Cancer Prevention."

The top of the Hyakudo stone has worn down a little. This is probably proof that many people have made the 100-step pilgrimage here, praying for recovery from illness, whether it be for themselves or someone they know. Ishikiri Shrine has been a spiritual anchor for many people since ancient times.

On the approach to the shrine that connects the main hall and Kaminosha Shrine, there is the Ishikiri Sando Shopping Arcade. Part of this approach is known as the "holy land of fortune telling" as it is home to so many fortune telling shops. Why are there so many fortune telling shops?

In the past, there were many watermills built around here, using the water flowing from Mt. Ikoma. In the watermills, people would grind medicinal herbs collected from the mountains and sell them as medicine. One theory is that they started out as health consultations, but eventually evolved into fortune-telling.

Whether you get it right or wrong, it's all good luck. If you find a shop that catches your eye, popping in is one of the joys of traveling. You might unexpectedly get a hint that will solve your problem.

Tour of Three Shrines Part 2: Laughing Away Misfortune and Bringing Good Fortune? [Hiraoka Shrine]

Our next stop is Hiraoka Shrine, one of the oldest shrines in Japan. The main deity of Hiraoka Shrine is Amenokoyane no Mikoto, the god who presides over religious ceremonies and is said to have been the first to perform them in Japan. It was also Amenokoyane no Mikoto who first used the shimenawa ropes that are often seen at shrines.

In front of the stairs leading to the main shrine, there is a special shimenawa rope called "agemaki musubi." This shimenawa rope is replaced every December during a festival called "Shimekake Shinji." It is also known as the "Owarai Shinji," and it is a very entertaining festival. First, the chief priest laughs out loud, "Ahahaha," and worshippers join in. After that, they continue laughing for about 20 minutes! This is a ritual to "laugh away the misfortunes of the year and bring good fortune." Apparently, once you have participated, you are drawn in by its charm and many people from all over the country join in.

Hiraoka Shrine is also a place that is closely associated with fortune-telling. The Kayura Shinto ritual, held every January, is a traditional ceremony said to have begun around the Muromachi period, in which rice porridge is cooked to predict the coming year's crop yield and weather.

When boiling red bean porridge in a large cauldron, 12 pieces of wood are placed in the stove, and the degree of burning is used to predict the rain and fine weather for each month. 53 pieces of bamboo are tied together and hung in the porridge, and the amount of porridge left in the bamboo tube when it is finished cooking is used to predict the harvest. In this way, divination has been practiced since ancient times.

In an era when the weather had a major impact on people's lives, it is hard to imagine how much people relied on these religious rites.

Three-Shrine Tour ③ Can you predict your fortune depending on the people you see? Hyotanyama Inari Shrine

The last place we visit is Hyotanyama Inari Shrine. It is adjacent to the Higashi-Koya Kaido road that leads from Kyoto to Mount Koya, and many travelers passed through the shrine during the Edo period when pilgrimages were popular. An old woman who would tell fortunes appeared in the area, and her fortune-telling eventually came to be known as "Tsujiuranai."

People predict the future of their fortunes by observing the appearance of passersby and the content of their conversations, such as "If the next person turning the corner is a woman, your love will come true" or "If two people sitting in a tea shop are discussing money, business will go well."

Among these, the fortune-telling performed by the chief priests at the intersections is extremely popular, and there is a story that made the rumor known to the world.

One day at the end of the Edo period, a ronin from Noto came to Hyotanyama Inari Shrine and said, "I've given up being a samurai and I'm thinking of opening a shop, so I'd like you to tell me my fortune." The chief priest told him to set up a shop in a bustling place in the west, so the ronin opened a fish shop in Osaka. The shop was very successful, and in gratitude, the ronin donated a torii gate and a tamagaki fence to the Inari shrine. The crest of that shop can still be seen on the torii gate at the fortune-telling hall and the tamagaki fence in the shrine grounds.

As these stories spread, merchants from Osaka began flocking to Hyōtanyama. They even created a "Love Fortune Telling" which is similar to what we now call omikuji fortune-telling slips, and it became a huge hit. Apparently, customers came not only from Japan, but also from Taiwan!

Reservations are required, but you can still receive a "Tsujiuranai" (fortune telling). At the shrine office, you can get a variety of unusual fortune telling slips, including "Yakinuki" (where the fortune written on the slip is burned off by applying incense), "Aburidashi" (where the letters emerge when exposed to fire), and "Tsujiuranai Hyotan Bamboo" (a type of fortune telling slip), which is said to be the prototype of fortune cookies.

To conclude your trip, why not have your fortune told at this place that has a connection to fortune telling?

Take home a sound talisman as a souvenir (experience at Hiraoka Shrine and Hyōtanyama Inari Shrine)

Hiraoka Shrine/Sound Tag

After visiting the three shrines, some people may feel as if their mind has been put at ease, or that a weight has been lifted from their shoulders. The atmosphere they felt at each shrine, and the thoughts that came to mind while making a wish, will gradually fade away as they return to their daily lives.

The sound of footsteps walking down the approach, sunlight filtering through the trees, and the shrine's torii gates shrouded in a majestic atmosphere... these are the sound talismans given out at Hiraoka Shrine and Hyotanyama Inari Shrine that bring to mind such scenes.

"Sound Tags" are card-shaped items that can be carried around like amulets, and cost 800 yen per set. Each one is made for a specific shrine, and when you scan the QR code, a "sound" that was actually recorded on the shrine grounds will play. This is a new type of amulet that allows you to recall the thoughts and prayers you made when you visited the shrine, along with the sound, at any time.

Hiraoka Shrine has recorded auspicious sounds that combine the nature of the shrine grounds with the laughter of the "Comedy Ritual," while Hyotanyama Inari Shrine has recorded auspicious sounds collected from Hyotanyama.

Hyōtanyama Inari Shrine/Sound Tag

*This event is not being held at Ishikiri Tsurugiya Shrine. Please contact each shrine to find out when the awards are available.

Furthermore, the audio guide "ON THE TRIP" will enhance your experience of visiting these three shrines. Listening to the stories behind each shrine will make your visit even more meaningful.

Hiraoka Shrine/Sound Tags

Audio guide "ON THE TRIP"

With the theme of "turning every travel destination into a museum," this travel guide app allows you to delve deeper into things that interest you at various destinations, from cultural assets such as shrines and temples, to breathtaking views, hot springs, art festivals, and even cultures like Zen and sushi.

Using the audio guide is easy. Just download the ON THE TRIP app, open it, and select the spot guide. Choose a spot that interests you, and play it. It will tell you the history and background of the scenery in front of you with audio, text, and photos.
*There are two types of guide playback: a GPS-enabled automatic playback type and a manual playback type.

Download the iOS app here

Download the Android app here

Once you launch the app, search for "Visiting the Three Shrines of Higashiosaka." You can start enjoying the guide immediately after downloading, but we recommend downloading it in advance to help you plan your trip. Don't forget to bring your earphones. Enjoy the story of Higashiosaka City as you visit the spots in order.

In Osaka Prefecture, we are also running the "Ikeda Town Walk" in Ikeda City and the "Sakai Town Walk" in Sakai City. Please feel free to take advantage of these opportunities.

Ikeda Town Walk: https://matcha-jp.com/jp/26777
Sakai Town Walk: https://matcha-jp.com/jp/26778

In times of great unrest and uncertainty, people have entrusted their wishes to the gods, and sometimes sought the support of fortune-tellers, seeking the strength to move forward. Even in today's world, where material wealth is abundant and people are said to be at peace, there are times when everyone faces worries and doubts.

The three shrines have long been places of worship for people. Following in the footsteps of those who came before, join your hands in prayer to the gods with a sacred feeling. Perhaps this moment will calm your mind and help you focus on your next step. May this journey lead to your next step.

[Visiting the Three Shrines of Higashi-Osaka and the Western Foot of Mt. Ikoma: Why did the foot of Mt. Ikoma become a "town of faith and fortune-telling"?]
https://on-the-trip.net/spots/724/purchase

[Unraveling with an audio guide: Why did Higashi-Osaka, the area at the foot of Mount Ikoma, come to be known as the "town of faith and fortune-telling"?]
https://osaka-info.jp/special/audio-guide/higashiosakashi-history/