Ookunitama Shrine

Ookunitama Shrine, built in 111 AD, has a history of nearly 2000 years. It enshrines Ookunitama no Ookami, the great god of the land, and is revered by many people, from locals to tourists, as the guardian god of Musashi Province. Legend has it that in ancient times, Ookunitama no Ookami opened up Musashi Province and taught people about clothing, food, shelter, and medical practices, making it famous as a god of warding off evil and matchmaking.

The path leading to the main shrine and the precincts is also magnificent and impressive. Just outside Fuchu Station on the Keio Line is the "Baba Daimon Keyaki Tree-lined Street," which is designated as a national natural monument and leads to the Okunitama Shrine. The Keyaki tree-lined street began when Minamoto no Yoritomo and his father prayed for victory in battle and planted 1,000 Keyaki tree seedlings upon their triumphant return. The oldest Keyaki tree is said to be about 600 years old. The path from the approximately 700-meter tree-lined street leads straight to the approach to the Okunitama Shrine. During the New Year's visit and the Kurayami Festival, food stalls line up, creating a festive atmosphere.

The "Kurayami Festival" is held every year from April 30th to May 6th, and is the busiest time for the Okunitama Shrine. It was named after the festival ritual called "mikoshi togyo", which used to be held in the middle of the night with all the lights in the city turned off. The main event takes place on May 5th, where the largest taiko drum in Japan is beaten and eight portable shrines parade through the streets of Fuchu, signaled by fireworks at 6pm. The festival attracts about 800,000 people during its duration, so it's recommended to use public transportation due to the expected crowds.

The reason why O-kuni-nushi Shrine is considered a powerful power spot is the Ooginko, a sacred tree located within the shrine grounds. You can find it by going around to the back after visiting the main hall. It is about 1,000 years old and is said to have benefits mainly for women's concerns such as postpartum recovery. The trees are lush and the shrine grounds are pleasant, but the presence of the Ooginko is something special. When you visit, be sure to stop by and not forget it.

At Ookunitama Shrine, there are seven legendary wonders that have been passed down to this day. For example, there is the "rice seedlings of the offering field". The area right next to the shrine, which is now the Tokyo Racecourse, used to be the shrine's offering field. On May 6th, children would play sumo wrestling in the rice paddies after planting rice seedlings. However, it's said that the seedlings that were trampled during the wrestling would stand straight up the next day, which is quite surprising. Other legends include the "drops of the fir tree", where drops of water constantly fall from the fir tree in the shrine grounds, and the "roots of the giant cedar", where the huge cedar tree on the approach to the shrine has never shown its roots above ground. Why not enjoy a visit to the shrine while exploring these seven wonders?