A Powerful Place Where Dreams Come True! Osugi Shrine, Ibaraki

What is Osugi Shrine?

Osugi Shrine is a shrine located in Inashiki, Ibaraki prefecture, in the Kanto region . This place is called Japan's only Yume Musubi Daimyojin: "a shrine that fulfills dreams."

Unlike a general shrine where you would normally make prayers regarding health or traffic safety, this shrine seems to have a god that fulfills only concrete and clear dreams and goals.

The haiden (*1) and romon (*2) are characterized by their vermilion based vivid colors, while the precincts are surrounded by buildings and sculptures of various colors. Here you can experience a special atmosphere unimaginable of shrines within the city.

*1 Haiden: the main worship hall of a shrine in front of which stands an offertory box.
*2 Romon: a two-storied gate found at many temples and shrines.

The Reason Osugi Shrine Is a Yume Musubi Daimyojin

In the year 767, while a monk called Shodo Shonin was on his way to Osugi Shrine, he came across a great number of people suffering from a severe illness. When Shodo Shonin made a prayer to the cedar tree in the shrine precincts, the god Miwa Myojin appeared, and repelled the disease.

As a result of this, Osugi Shrine became known as Osugi Daimyojin, and many worshippers came here not only to cure disease and misfortune, but to also ward off misfortune in the future as well.

After this, a monk named Hitachibo Kaison also made the journey to Osugi Shrine. Kaison's reason for visiting Osugi Shrine is that he wanted to borrow the power of the shrine to perform miracles, and the wishes of many are said to have come true as result.

The miracles that Kaison and Osugi Shrine performed ultimately lead to Osugi Shrine being known as the only dream fulfilling shrine in Japan.

On both sides of the torii at Osugi Shrine are stone statues of tengu rather than of komainu or guardian dogs. The long nosed tengu on the left is called Negai Tengu (wish tengu), while the karasu tengu on the right is called Kanai Tengu (come true tengu).

It seems that Kaison was a large man that had a great beard and blue eyes, a long nose - in other words, that he resembled a tengu himself, and was thus thought to have been the tengu of Osugi Shrine.

Kawarake Wari: for Those Wanting to Stop Bad Fortune

This is the Akuenikiri no Yuniwa, a small garden found on the left side of the main shrine building. A yuniwa is a purified space for the gods to visit.

In order to be blessed with good fortune and to have your dreams come true, you must first stand up to or confront evil. After first chanting the sacred words three times, you will be given an akuenkiri no kawarake (a plate-like piece of pottery), which you must aim and throw at the stone peach tree statue and smash; once it has smashed, your bad luck will have been cut off.

The sacred chant that must be chanted to yourself three times is: ware omou kimino kokorowa hanaretsuru waremo omowaji kimimo omowaji.

Recommended Souvenirs - Yumeka Mamori and Yakuyoke Monaka!

After you have made your prayers, be sure to see the omamori, or lucky talismans that are available at this shrine.

At Osugi Shrine, you will find an unusual amulet called the Yume Musubi. This is one of the Yume Musubi known as the Yumeka Mamori. This lovely charm features the Japanese characters for 'dream' and 'come true' on it, and costs 1000 yen with tax.

In the neighborhood around the shrine, at the shop called Yumean, you will find a type of Japanese sweet called monaka for sale.

These are known as yakuyoke monaka. On the left, the light brown sweet is made to resemble the Negai Tengu, and is filled with tsubuan, while the one on the right is made after Kanai Tengu and is filled with yuzu shiroan (*3). They cost 120 yen, with tax; their expiration date is about two weeks from time of purchase, so these also make for great souvenirs as well.

*3 Yuzu shiroan: a popular ingredient in Japanese sweets, it is a sweet white bean paste made from boiled white beans and sugar that has been flavored with yuzu (a citrus fruit) peel.

In Conclusion

Yume Musubi Daimyojin-sama, a shrine that supports the dreams and goals of its worshippers. If you have a dream that you are working towards and want to achieve by all means available, then why not seek the help of this shrine in your quest?

There are many interesting sights to see both within the precincts and in the surrounding area, as well as other shrines nearby, so please take a stroll and enjoy your surroundings when you visit Osugi Shrine.

For more detailed access routes and other information, please refer to the information box below.

Osugi Shrine

958 Aba, Inashiki City, Ibaraki Prefecture 300-0621