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Oshima Shrine (大島神社)

Oshima Shrine, which is only a fifteen-minute walk from JR Mihara Station, is a shrine that has a deep connection to Mihara and has been treasured by the people of Mihara throughout the ages. It is said that the present Oshima Shrine came about when Kobayakawa Takakage, the ruler of Mihara Castle and fervent worshipper of the local tutelary god Oshima Inari (who protected the castle and territory), took the branch shrines of Itsukushima Shrine–which he prayed to even in the midst of battle–and moved them in with the Oshima Inari shrine. Every February, there is a Hina Festival where people pray for the growth of healthy girls, and that event bustles with locals.

Moment of Joy

The best part of Oshima Shrine is the narrow path densely lined with 62 torii gates that can be found on the shrine grounds. When one mentions a path of torii gates, Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Shrine is the most famous, but as the torii at Oshima Shrine progress up a flight of stone stairs with a steep incline, it may feel as though one has wandered into the Demon World when walking along the path. Furthermore, at the top of the stone stairway, one can see a landscape that encompasses the Seto Inland Sea as well as the streets of Mihara City, making this spot a highly sought-after destination for views.