[2025 Imabari Attraction] Travel Guide for Ōyamazumi Shrine (Updated Apr)

Oyamazumi Shrine in Omishima, Ehime Prefecture ⛩ This is a spot you can't miss if you go to Omishima! Inside the shrine grounds, there is a magnificent sacred tree that is over 2600 years old 🌲 It is a power spot. Oyamazumi Shrine is located near the center of Omishima, so it is easy to access. I visited the shrine early in the morning while taking a morning walk ♪ Access: 3327 Miyanoura, Omishima-cho, Imabari-shi, Ehime Prefecture #Remote Island Tourism #Shimanami Kaido #Omishima #Ehime

When I went to Omishima on the Shimanami Kaido and was wondering where to have dinner, I came across "Kitsune no Botan" which was highly recommended by the hotel staff and the shopkeepers in town❣️ I really wanted to go, so I went there😋 This izakaya has a very interesting menu of creative dishes, and the food is delicious! ! ✨ The restaurant is run by a married couple, and their conversation was wonderful, and you could tell how close they are. Access: 5512 Miyanoura, Omishima-cho, Imabari-shi, Ehime #RemoteIslandTourism #ShimanamiKaido #Omishima #Ehime

Oyamazumi Shrine stands tall on Omishima Island in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. I discovered it on a detour while cycling along the Shimanami Kaido. I visited just as the emperor was changing, and a religious ceremony was being held there, creating a very solemn atmosphere. By the way, it is located in the middle of the Shimanami Kaido, so you can access it by car or bicycle. There are quite a few ups and downs, but if you're in good shape, it's best to go by bicycle!! #Shrine #Breathtaking views

#Spring0yenTrip I visited Oyamazumi Shrine while traveling along the Shimanami Kaido, and was impressed by the atmosphere of the shrine, which seemed to be quietly nestled in the tranquility of the island. The grounds are very spacious, and a large camphor tree said to be 2,600 years old stands tall, with a presence that makes you look up. Surrounded by trees, the air is cool and clear, and I felt my mind calm. This is an old shrine dedicated to the god of the sea, and the treasure museum on the grounds displays many armors and swords donated by military commanders, making it a great space for history lovers. There were few tourists, so I was able to worship quietly, and it was a rare place where I could feel both nature and history in the relaxed time that is unique to the island.

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] A cedar tree about 2,600 years old! Power spot! Oyamazumi Shrine (^^) This shrine is called the general guardian deity of Japan and has over 10,000 branch shrines nationwide (^^) In the center of the shrine grounds sits a sacred tree, a large camphor tree that is about 2,600 years old, and the group of camphor trees in the shrine was designated a national natural monument in 1951 as the oldest group of camphor trees in Japan's primeval forest! (^^) [Location] 3327 Miyanoura, Omishima-cho, Imabari-shi, Ehime Prefecture, 794-1393 [Access] 60 minutes by bus from JR Imabari Station. Take the express bus to Omishima and get off at "Oyamazumi Shrine-mae", then walk for 1 minute. 15 minutes by car from Shimanami Kaido, Omishima IC #0 yen trip February 2025

📍Oyamazumi Shrine, Ehime Prefecture The sacred tree that stands in front of the main hall is called "Ochi no Mikoto (Ochi no Mikoto)'s hand-planted camphor tree" and is said to have been planted by Ochi no Mikoto, a descendant of Oyamatsumi no Okami, before Emperor Jimmu's eastern expedition. The tree is over 2,600 years old. Oyamazumi Shrine has been revered as the guardian deity of Japan since ancient times, and during the Taisho era it was listed as the only national shrine in Shikoku. The main shrine's deity is Oyamazumi no Kami. The deities of the auxiliary shrine [Kamitsuyashiro] are Oikazuchi no Kami and Himegami. The deities of the auxiliary shrine [Shimotsuyashiro] are Takaokami no Kami and Himegami. The main shrine and the two auxiliary shrines are worshipped as Oyamazumi Shrine. #0yentravelJanuary2025

Located in the southernmost area of ​​Ehime Prefecture, near the border between Hiroshima and Ehime Prefectures, this is one of the largest power spots in the Setouchi area. The sacred tree, Okusu, which is 2,600 years old, was impressive in size. It was a wonderful shrine with a sacred atmosphere. Visiting period: Mid-June 2024 ୨୧――――――――――――――――――୨୧ information Facility name📍Oyamazumi Shrine Address📍3327 Miyanoura, Omishima-cho, Imabari-shi, Ehime Opening hours📍Sunrise to 5pm Access📍 ・7km from Omishima IC on the Nishi-Seto Expressway (Shimanami Kaido) ୨୧――――――――――――――――――୨୧ #Domestic travel #japan #solo travel #girls' trip #historic site #Oyamazumi Shrine #Omishima #Shimanami Kaido #Shikoku tourism

＜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

The scenery of Shimabara Kaido is so beautiful that every turn is amazing and makes you want to stop and take pictures. Because we spent too much time cycling on Shimabara Kaido, by the time we arrived at IKIIKI Hall, the local famous sea bream burgers were sold out, and we also missed the morning tide watching boat. So we adjusted our itinerary and went to Oyama Zumi Shrine first, and then took the tide watching boat to see the whirlpool in the afternoon. Oyama Zumi Shrine is located in Omishima, Imabari City, and enshrines Oyama Zumi, a deity that appears in Japanese mythology. Because Oyama Zumi Shrine has a collection of as many as 8 national treasures and 75 important cultural properties, Omishima, where Oyama Zumi Shrine is located, is known as the 'Island of National Treasures'. We met a family here celebrating 'Shichi-Go-San', a very ceremonial event (Figure 4). 'Shichi-Go-San' is a traditional Japanese event to celebrate children's growth and pray for their future health, similar to Children's Day in Japan. According to old Japanese customs, when a boy is three and five years old, and a girl is three and seven years old, they must celebrate. The main ceremony is to go out to a nearby famous shrine for worship and prayer, wishing the child to grow up healthily. After visiting the shrine, we saw a few tourists walking up the mountain. Out of curiosity, we followed them. On the way, we met an old man selling oranges. He took out a lot of oranges for us to eat. The oranges were very sweet, so we asked for the price. We bought a lot for 10 yuan, and the old man gave us a bunch of small oranges. This buy big and get small is too cost-effective. In Ehime, we often meet simple, kind, and enthusiastic people. They are polite, humble, and friendly. Come out often, and you will feel that the world is full of love and kindness.

I would like to introduce Oyamazumi Shrine, which also appeared in Wada Ryu's "Murakami Kaizoku no Musume" (The Daughter of the Murakami Kaizoku), which won the 2014 Bookstore Award. Many people are probably familiar with Oyamazumi Shrine, which has recently become a popular tourist spot in Imabari and has been attracting attention as a power spot. If you like power spots, you can't miss it. Oyamazumi Shrine is visited by famous military commanders, as well as modern businessmen and politicians. The tree inside the shrine is said to be 2,600 years old. The sacred atmosphere makes you feel dignified. You can also get the classic fortune-telling slips! Both the worship hall and the main hall are designated as important cultural properties of the country, and it feels like they are filled with "ki" (energy). It is said that soldiers would visit the shrine before battle and give thanks after victory, and the treasure museum, which displays many of the gifts, is said to have many national treasures. Imabari is also famous for its towels. There is also a towel museum nearby, so we recommend sightseeing there together. (The fifth photo is the garden of the Towel Museum.) #PR #ShikokuTrip #PowerSpot #TowelMuseum

Oyamazumi Shrine on Omishima ☺️ "The deity worshipped is Oyamatsumi-no-Okami. He is the elder brother of Amaterasu Omikami. In the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, he is described as the "God of the Mountains," and in the Iyo no Kuni Fudoki, he is described as "sits on the island. His name is Oyamatsumi...also known as Watashi no Okami." He is the god of the mountains, the god of the ocean, and the god of travel." It is said that😍✨ The sacred tree there is said to be over 2600 years old, and what a blessing this place is✨✨ I can't believe it's a tree with such a long history✨ Just being there makes you feel the cleanliness of the air and the high spirits☺️☺️

It is said that if you hold your breath and walk around this spot three times, your wish will come true.