Ogamiyama Shrine

It is an ancient shrine that is the center of the Oyama faith. It enshrines the Ōnamutinomikoto as the chief priest god. It is also the ninth Fudasho ( pilgrimage temples where amulets are collected) of the Izumo Shinbutsu Pilgrimage, Shinto and Buddhism temples that consists of 20 venerable shrines and temples. It consists of two companies, the head office at the foot of the mountain and the Okunomiya on the mountainside, and from the head office to Okunomiya, a 700-meter entrance road made of natural stones extends through huge cedar and beech trees. It is the longest cobblestone in Japan built in the early Showa period.

When you go through the entrance road, there is a Mikami gate at the end of the well where the divine water springs up. The front gate of the　Daisenji Honbō Seirakuin was donated in 1857, and is called the "reversed gate" or "rear-facing gate" whose doors open in the opposite direction.

The shrine hall of Okunomiya is one of the largest Gongenzukuri, a traditional style of Shinto architecture in Japan, and the main hall, the hall of offering, and the hall of worship are important cultural properties designated by the country. The interior conveys the mixed style of Shinto and Buddhism, and is decorated with a special technique called lacquered sandalwood painting that resembles gold leaf. There is also a coffered ceiling with a mural of a heavenly woman and a “flower, bird, wind, and moon”, depicting the traditional theme of natural beauty. A visit is possible. The precinct of the head office is 6,000 tsubo (19835 ㎡, and there is a moat pond where carp swim and an outer garden of purple yang flowers. It’s a wonderful place for a stroll.