Kabushima Island is one of the prominent nesting places of black-tailed gulls in Japan. Climbing up a flight of stone steps, you will find Kabushima Shrine, which was founded in 1269, standing on the top of the hill. During the Edo period, in the feudal domain of Hachinohe-han, the shrine had been worshiped enthusiastically by the successive feudal lords since the time of the first feudal lord. The worshiped deity called Ichikishima-hime-no-mikoto is the same deity as Benzaiten (the one of deities of the Seven Deities of Good Luck), who can bring us great economic fortune. Flocks of black-tailed gulls that guide us to a fishing ground have been cherished as messengers of Benzaiten since ancient times. Black-tailed gulls’ droppings which sometimes come down from above are regarded as good fortune from heaven. If people are hit by the droppings, it is believed to be a good sign that brings them more fortune.
Kabushima Island is a designated national natural monument as a rare nesting place of black-tailed gulls. From April to the end of July every year, it is their breeding season, and you can watch their ecology closely. At its peak, about 30,000 black-tailed gulls flutter about so that there is not enough space for visitors to step in the shrine precincts. Even though the droppings might bring good fortune, we do not want to get our clothes dirty. That is why they offer some free rental umbrellas at the foot of the hill.
