[Ehime Prefecture] A photogenic spot that's become a hot topic recently! "Enmanji Temple" - a place of matchmaking

Recently, Enmanji Temple, a small temple on a street corner located 2 minutes walk from the main building of Dogo Onsen in Ehime Prefecture, has been talked about as a "photo spot" on the streets. Originally, it was an ancient temple of the Jodo sect founded around the 9th century, but during the Edo period, when the hot spring water in Dogo Onsen suddenly stopped flowing, the water started flowing again when people prayed to the Jizo statue enshrined in the temple grounds, and the Jizo statue became familiarly known as the "Great Hot Spring Jizo." It is also believed that this Jizo statue protects Dogo Onsen from major fires, and because of this benefit, he is known as the "fire prevention Jizo," and by extension, as the god of marital harmony and matchmaking, who puts out fires from people playing with fire and prevents infidelity. This colorful and eye-catching "Omusubi ball" is named after this origin. The Yudama held in the left hand of the Yuno Daijizo has been transformed into a bean-like "Omusubi ball" and made into a prayer item for matchmaking. It looks a bit like the Yasaka Koshindo in Kyoto. This is actually a recent initiative that was started as one of the main measures for promoting the Dogo Onsen region. The Omusubi balls are carefully made one by one by the people at the local silver center. Matsuyama is also famous nationwide as a city of literary figures and haiku, having produced such great poets as Masaoka Shiki and Natsume Soseki. In honor of this, the cute votive plaques with haiku about matchmaking, called "Ematama," are also popular. #tripdomestictravel #spectacularviews #photogenicspots #shrinesandtemples