Shinokura Shrine and Its Sacred Spring: A Healing Power Spot in Ono

Shinokura Shrine in Ono City, Fukui Prefecture, is a shrine listed in the Engishiki, said to have been founded in 717. Its main deity is Onamuchi-no-okami, also known as Okuninushi, and the whole precinct is a place of abundant spring water. In particular, the sacred spring called Goreisen, which wells up by Benten Pond within the grounds, has long been known as a healing water good for ailments of the eyes. It is not a flashy spot crowded with tourists, but a hidden power spot treasured by the people of the Oku-Echizen region as a divine water of healing.

Highlights

• The sacred spring Goreisen, said to help ailments of the eyes, and Benten Pond that spreads around it as if guarding it
• Pure spring water that some people travel from afar to draw
• The heritage of an Engishiki-listed shrine whose main deity is Onamuchi-no-okami (Okuninushi)
• A quiet sacred precinct wrapped in spring water and greenery

Seasonal Enjoyment

From spring through summer, fresh greenery sets off the clarity of the spring water, and the cool air feels pleasant. In autumn the coloured leaves gently adorn the precinct, and in winter, amid the snow-wrapped silence, the purity of the sacred spring stands out all the more. Throughout the year you can spend a healing moment quietly facing the water.

Access and Basic Information

• Location: Shinokura, Ono City, Fukui Prefecture
• About 15 minutes on foot (heading south) from Echizen-Ono Station on the JR Etsumi-Hoku Line
• A short walk from the Shinokura-jinja-mae stop on the city bus from Echizen-Ono Station
• Parking available; some visitors draw the sacred spring water to take home

Practical Travel Notes

• Best seasons are early summer for fresh greenery and autumn when the grounds turn colour. Snowy winter is also quiet and atmospheric
• Allow about 20 to 30 minutes for worship and viewing the spring, a little more if you plan to draw water
• If you wish to take the spring water home, bring a clean empty bottle to make it easy
• The shrine pairs well with Echizen-Ono Castle, the Honganshozu spring, and the great zelkova of Senpukuji, and fits nicely into a tour of the area famous springs
• Budget feel: worship and using the spring are free. Even combined with a walk through the Ono castle town or a meal, a visit costs only a few hundred to a few thousand yen

A Word of Advice

If you want to take the sacred spring water home, bring an empty bottle to be safe. As this is sacred water, receive it without forgetting a feeling of gratitude. It also pairs well with a tour of the famous springs of Ono City, such as Honganshozu.

📚 Sources

The information here is based mainly on the public guidance from Ono city and its tourism association, together with the details provided by the shrine office of Shinokura Shrine. The point that it is an Engishiki-listed shrine said to have been founded in 717, and the guidance on the sacred water Goreisen, said to help eye ailments, and Benten Pond are also useful references. Because the offering office reception hours and the guidance on using the Goreisen may change, please confirm the latest details on the official Ono city or Shinokura Shrine information before you visit.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time needed: About 20 to 30 minutes for a visit and viewing the Goreisen. Allow a little more time if you draw water.
• What to bring: If you wish to take home the Goreisen water, bringing a clean empty bottle makes it smooth. The visit and use of the spring water are free, but as it is sacred water, do not forget your gratitude.
• Suggested route: After touching the clear water at the Goreisen by Benten Pond and paying your respects, combine your trip with the nearby Echizen Ono Castle, Hongan Shozu, and the great zelkova of Senpukuji, all a short drive away, as part of a famous-water tour of Ono.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Parking: 20 spaces. Large buses can park as well
• Goshuin seal stamps / amulet office: Amulets and goshuin seal stamps are issued. During the New Year visiting season the amulet office is usually open from around 23:00 on New Year's Eve through the small hours of New Year's Day, and from 9:00 to 16:00 on January 1 to 5 (a New Year lucky rice-cake throwing is held from 0:30 on New Year's Day)
• Using the sacred spring: Fukui Prefecture's official guidance states that drinking the water is at the visitor's own discretion, and asks visitors to help keep the spring water clean and to take their rubbish home
• Enquiries: 0779-65-1455 (Shinokura Shrine office)
• Official information: Shinokura Shrine official website / Echizen Ono Tourism Guide (Echizen Ono Tourism Bureau) / Fukui Prefecture official website, The Sacred Spring of Shinokura Shrine / Fukui Dot Com (Fukui Prefecture Tourism Federation)

Note: The above is a guide based on information published by the respective facilities and local authorities. Hours and fees are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.