Kotohira-gu

Background

Kotohira-gu, popularly called Konpira-gu or "Konpira-san", stands halfway up Mount Zozu in Kotohira Town, Nakatado District, Kagawa Prefecture. The approach climbs 785 stone steps from the town to the main shrine and 1,368 to the inner shrine; the lookout by the main shrine is a man-made viewing terrace overlooking the Sanuki Plain and Sanuki Fuji. Inside the main gate, the "Gonin Byakusho" (Five Farmers), long granted special permission to trade within the precincts, sell Kamiyo-ame candy, and a bronze statue of a Konpira dog stands at the 431st step. It is the head shrine of about 600 Kotohira and Konpira shrines across Japan. The principal deity is Omononushi, enshrined together with Emperor Sutoku. Until the separation of Shinto and Buddhism in the early Meiji era it was known as Konpira Daigongen, and in 1868 it became a Shinto shrine; in 1969 it became the head shrine of the religious corporation Kotohira Hongyo, and in 2020 it left the Association of Shinto Shrines to become an independent shrine. From the mid-19th century it has been especially revered as a guardian of sea traffic by fishermen, sailors, and others who work at sea; from the mid-Edo period, Konpira confraternities formed around the country, and the Konpira pilgrimage is said to have been a dream of ordinary people second only to the pilgrimage to Ise. The main hall was rebuilt in the early Meiji era; the Omote-shoin, built in 1659, holds wall and screen paintings by Maruyama Okyo and others; and Asahi-sha was built in 1837 with donations of 20,000 ryo. The Omote-shoin, Asahi-sha, and many other buildings are National Important Cultural Properties.

Local customs

• Start from the shopping street on the main approach and climb the stone steps past the main gate, the Omote-shoin, and Asahi-sha to the main shrine, continuing to the inner shrine if you have the stamina
• look out over the Sanuki Plain from the lookout by the main shrine
• after your visit, stroll the main approach and try Sanuki udon and Kamiyo-ame.

Travel tips

• Worship itself is free, while the treasure hall, the Omote-shoin, and some other facilities charge separately, at the usual level, with details subject to official information
• the full climb takes a long time, so wear shoes suited to walking and bring water. Cherry blossoms lining Sakura no Baba are the signature spring sight, autumn leaves set off the stone steps of the approach, in summer you should avoid the midday heat on the climb and drink plenty of water, and in winter watch your footing on wet, slippery steps
• dates of events such as the annual grand festival follow official announcements.
• Take the JR Dosan Line or the Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad Kotohira Line to Kotohira Station, then walk to the main approach
• a rapid train from Takamatsu takes about 1 hour to Kotohira, and a limited express from Okayama about 1 hour, with schedules subject to official information.