Izumo Fukutoku Shrine

Izumo Fukutoku Shrine, located in Nakatsugawa City, Gifu Prefecture, was established in 1932 as a branch shrine of Izumo Taisha in Shimane Prefecture. It is famed for the belief that rubbing the bellies of the Ebisu and Daikoku statues in its grounds brings lottery wins, and it bustles with worshippers praying for wealth and well-rounded fortune, making it a popular power spot.

Highlights

• Statues of Ebisu and Daikoku: Ebisu and Daikoku, gods of business prosperity and good fortune. Stroking their bellies to pray for wealth is the customary style of worship, and many press their palms together with heartfelt sincerity.
• Blessings of Wealth and Lottery Luck: Many visit to pray for lottery wins, and the spot is reputed to receive reports of winners. During the Jumbo Lottery release season, worshippers sometimes come from across the country.
• Matchmaking and Well-Rounded Fortune: As a shrine linked to Izumo Taisha, it is also cherished for blessings of matchmaking and household harmony, welcoming a wide range of wishes.

Enjoying the Seasons

Set in a calm mountain environment, it lets you worship while feeling the shifts of nature, with fresh greenery in spring and colorful foliage in autumn. The year-end and New Year period coincides with the lottery season, so it is especially busy with worshippers praying for wealth. Quiet worship amid the summer green or the clear winter air each has its own charm.

Access and Basic Information

• Location: 1683-797 Nasubigawa, Nakatsugawa City, Gifu Prefecture
• Access: About a 10-minute drive from Mino-Sakamoto Station on the JR Chuo Main Line. It is also close to the Nakatsugawa Interchange on the Chuo Expressway, so coming by car is convenient.
• Hours: Grounds open freely (shrine office staffed during the day)
• Admission: Free

Practical Travel Notes

• Best time and season: For a careful visit, a weekday daytime when crowds settle is recommended. To savor the atmosphere of wealth prayers, the lottery release seasons and the year-end and New Year period are full of energy.
• Avoiding crowds: The year-end, New Year, and Jumbo Lottery periods get busy, so those wanting a quiet visit should avoid these times.
• Time needed: The visit itself takes about 20 to 40 minutes. Combined with nearby sightseeing, it is easy to build into a half-day itinerary.
• Nearby stops: Nakatsugawa is known as the birthplace of kurikinton chestnut sweets, with long-established Japanese confectionery shops dotting the town. Extending to Magome-juku, a post town on the Nakasendo, is also popular.
• Budget feel: Worship is free. Even including an amulet and local sweets, you can enjoy it for a few hundred to around a thousand yen.

A Quick Tip

When you visit, do not forget to stroke the bellies of Ebisu and Daikoku with heartfelt sincerity. Nakatsugawa is also famous for kurikinton chestnut sweets, so enjoying local treats after your visit is recommended. Since access is convenient by car, pairing it with a tour of the nearby post towns makes for a rewarding itinerary.

📚 Sources

The content here is organized from public information on Izumo Fukutoku Shrine, guidance from the local municipality and tourism bodies, and on-site history plaques and signboards. The reception hours of the amulet counter and the schedule of rites may change. Lottery-themed amulets may vary in content by period. Because fees, hours, and access can change, please confirm with official sources before you set out.

Visitor Checklist

• Time needed: About twenty to forty minutes for worship itself. It is easy to build a half-day itinerary by combining nearby sightseeing.
• What to bring: Worship is free, but if you receive money-luck or lottery-themed amulets or a goshuin seal stamp, having cash is reassuring.
• Suggested route: Worship at the statues of Ebisu and Daikoku, praying for money luck, good matches, and abundant fortune.
• Time-of-day guide: If you want to worship calmly, choosing less busy hours is reassuring.
• Combining nearby: The location makes it easy to build a half-day itinerary with nearby sightseeing spots.