Motonosumi Shrine

"Motonosumi Shrine," which was selected as one of "Japan's 31 most beautiful places" by the American TV station CNN in 2015, is a scenic spot that attracts attention from around the world. Its biggest charm is the row of torii gates that stretch with the sea in the background. The contrast of the red torii gates, blue Sea of Japan, and green surrounding vegetation is beautiful, and many people from both Japan and abroad visit to see this breathtaking view. The shrine was established based on a message from a white fox that appeared at the bedside of Hitoshi Okamura, a local fishing master, in 1955, and the 123 torii gates that were dedicated over a period of ten years from 1987 are now a symbol of the shrine. It is also known as a power spot where you can receive blessings such as prosperity in business, good catch, maritime safety, good relationships, fertility, good luck, traffic safety, and academic success.

If you're going to make the effort to visit, why not follow the proper route and receive the true blessings? At Motonosumi Shrine, there is a prominent gate surrounded by fox signs in front of the first parking lot, but it's said that the proper route is to go down the slope without passing through this gate and start your visit from the "front gate" at the very bottom. When viewed from the proper route, you can see that the approach to Motonosumi Shrine starts with a gate from the sea, and the sight of 123 gates lined up like a tunnel is breathtaking. After standing in front of the gate, start your visit by bowing once. There are some places where the slope is a bit steep because the gates are set up on the hillside, but take a break while enjoying the view of the Sea of Japan visible through the gaps in the gates and climb up the 100-meter-long gates. Don't forget to visit the small main shrine after passing through the gates.

When you visit the "Front Torii Gate," be sure to enjoy the rugged cliffs and Sea of Japan landscape that spreads out before you. This entire area is a sea-eroded terrain of basalt (a type of volcanic rock), and if weather conditions are right, you may witness the natural phenomenon of "Ryugu no Shibuki," in which waves crash into the rock caves and spray seawater. It is said that the higher the tide, the more intense the spray, sometimes reaching over 30 meters high during strong northeast winds or winter seasonal winds that cause rough seas.

From the hilltop reached by climbing the 123 torii gates, you can enjoy the famous scenery that is talked about even overseas. The location you can see from here is truly worthy of being called a breathtaking view, and you can capture a unique shot of the red torii gates lining up against the blue sea, which is characteristic of Motonosumi Shrine. Camera marks are placed at your feet to make the shooting points easy to understand, so you don't have to worry about getting lost. In the afternoon, the torii gates may cast shadows, so why not visit in the morning and take your own best shot?

Motonosumi Shrine is known for its stunning views, but that's not the only thing that makes it enjoyable. One of the secret pleasures is the "donation box on the great torii gate," which is said to be the hardest donation box to put money in in Japan. The donation box is located on the top of the torii gate, which is about 6 meters high, and the distance to the box is as much as 5 meters! It is said that "you will become happy if your donation goes in," and since you can try as many times as you want, people who throw their donations with all their might, wishing for something, appear one after another, and when the donation goes in, cheers naturally arise from the surroundings. If you can't get it in no matter what, there is also a heart-shaped donation box near the base of the torii gate, so you can also put your donation there!