[Oyamazumi Shrine] (Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, former province name: Iyo)

＜The origin of the sea route, located in the heart of Setouchi, maintains a unique charm in its history and mysticism＞ Located at the northern end of Iyo Province (present-day Ehime Prefecture), Omishima is the largest and central island of the Geiyo Islands, which stretch between Iyo Province (present-day Ehime Prefecture) and Aki Province (present-day western Hiroshima Prefecture). If we take a broader look at its topography, it can be seen as being exactly at the center of the entire Seto Inland Sea, and it is an inevitable fact that the existence of the island has had a great influence on Setouchi society, both materially and spiritually. When you step ashore at Miyanoura Port, the gateway to the island, the first thing you see is a well-balanced stone torii gate. Gently colored by the gentle sunset, its graceful yet silent appearance, as if inviting you into the island's interior, inevitably embodies the sense that this island is "no ordinary thing." This is the beginning of the approach to Oyamazumi Shrine, the Ichinomiya of Iyo Province and also known as the "General Guardian of Japan." Oyamazumi Shrine's deity, Oyamatsumi-no-Kami, is the son of Izanagi and Izanami and the older brother of Amaterasu-Omikami, and as his name suggests, is said to be the god who governs the spiritual power of "mountains." There are many shrines across the country that worship Oyamatsumi-no-Kami, including Oyamazumi Shrine, Mishima Taisha Shrine in Mishima City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and Oyama Afuri Shrine in Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and each of them has had a profound influence on Japanese history and culture. Furthermore, in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki myths, it is recorded that when Emperor Jimmu (Jinmu-tenno) was on his eastern expedition, Ochi-no-mikoto (believed to be a descendant of Oyamatsumi-no-Okami), who travelled to Shikoku as a pioneer, enshrined a deity on Omishima Island, and since then, the shrine has also taken on the role of a sea god who rules over the "kaido" (sea road) of the Seto Inland Sea. Due to these origins, the shrine was given the title of Japan's general guardian deity by the Imperial Court, and is recognized as one of Japan's leading shrines in both name and reality. As mentioned above, Oyamazumi Shrine has a strong connection with the kaido (sea road) and military fortune (derived from Emperor Jimmu's eastern expedition), and was especially revered by the samurai who came to play leading roles in Japanese history from the Middle Ages onwards. Evidence of this is the numerous weapons and armor housed in the Treasure Museum. In particular, the shrine has the largest collection of armor in Japan, with masterpieces representing each era gathered together, from the large armor donated by Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159-1189), who was appointed as the governor of Iyo, to the Murakami pirates who were active in the coastal waters during the Sengoku period, and items related to the Kono clan, who served as the guardian of Iyo. Just by looking at the exhibits, you can imagine the evolution of Japanese weapons and the background of each era, and it is hard not to be amazed that all these treasures are gathered at a shrine on just one island. The grounds, where the sea breeze of the Seto Inland Sea and the mountain air descending from Mt. Washigato, one of the sacred objects, blend together, are home to a cluster of camphor trees, which have been designated as a national natural monument. One of the camphor trees, which is said to have been planted by Ochi no Mikoto, is 2,600 years old, and its vigor and dignity are impressive. The bright sunlight pours in, but the shade of the camphor trees and the refreshing air filled with vitality create a completely different contrast to the stately atmosphere and charm of the Treasure Museum we saw earlier. The current shrine building was built in 1427 during the first half of the Muromachi period, and features a flat roof made of cypress bark. Its simple construction is surprising given its solemn title as Japan's main shrine, but this architecture actually gives a sense of the vastness of the sky and the open atmosphere. After a round of worship and touring the island, we dropped our bags off at an inn near the approach to the shrine and returned to the shrine in the pleasant early summer twilight. In the precincts, thickly shaded by the trees, the presence of nature is felt even more deeply, accompanied by the rustling sound of the rapids. As we approached the rapids and lost in vague thoughts, we noticed a faint flickering light at our feet. Surprised by this unexpected encounter, I looked around and saw faint lights tracing soft curves here and there among the lush trees, creating an incredibly fantastical scene. When I realized that this was the light of fireflies, a phenomenon that is rarely seen in everyday life, I thought of Oyamazumi Shrine, wrapped in this light, shouldering a mountain and overlooking the sea, and was simply entranced by its mystical quality. Recommended for solo travelers: ★★★★ (There are people, but not many. You can enjoy sightseeing in peace!) Visited: 4th week of May, weekday, around 10am Access: About 10 minutes by car from Omishima IC #Oyamazumi Shrine #Imabari #Imabari City #Shimanami Kaido #Shimanami JAPAN #Ehime Prefecture #Ehime Trip #Ehime Tourism #Ehime Walk #Ehime Souvenirs #Shikoku Trip #Shikoku Tourism #Shikoku Travel #Domestic Travel Lover #Omishima #Temples and Shrines #Temple and Shrine Tour #Shrine Tour #Shrine Lover #Power Spot #National Treasure #Important Cultural Property #Swords #Armor #Natural Monument #Sacred Tree #Japanese Mythology #History Lover #Solo Travel #Life with Travel