Kotonomama Hachimangu

Standing in Kakegawa City in Shizuoka Prefecture, Kotonomama Hachimangu is the foremost shrine of the old Totomi Province, enshrining a deity who arranges matters through words. It is said that wishes come true just as you speak them, and this venerable old shrine even appears as Kotonoma Myojin in the Pillow Book written by Sei Shonagon in the Heian period. Passing through the gate, you are surrounded by many great trees, including a sacred cedar about forty meters tall. As a power spot where you can receive the power of word spirits, it draws worshippers from across the country who put their wishes into words and pray.

Highlights

- The sacred cedar about forty meters tall. The many great trees rising over the grounds tell of a long, unbroken history. - A large knot on the trunk of a giant camphor tree. Its ear like shape leads to the belief that the deity hears worshippers wishes from here. - The custom of polishing white stones around the main hall, called fukunokami, then praying. One for the deity, one for everyone, and one for yourself. - The solemn air of the grounds, conveying more than a thousand years of history recorded in the Pillow Book.

Enjoying the Seasons

In the fresh greenery season the young leaves of the sacred cedar and camphor are vivid, making for an invigorating visit. In autumn the surrounding trees take on color, a beautiful time for the contrast with the green of the great trees. At New Year the grounds fill with visitors for the first prayers, letting you feel the prestige of the foremost shrine of Totomi. In winter the solemn silhouette of the great cedar stands out in the clear air.

Access and Basic Information

- Location: Yasaka, Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture - Access: About fifteen minutes by taxi or twenty minutes by bus from JR Kakegawa Station, getting off at Hachimangu Mae. About one kilometer north of the Kakegawa Interchange on the Kakegawa Bypass. - Parking available, for about fifty cars. - The amulet office is open from around nine in the morning to six in the evening, and you can visit any day.

A Quick Tip

When you pray, the practice at this shrine is to put your wish clearly into words. Rather than wishing only in your heart, speak it aloud, and it is said your wish will come true just as you say it.