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Towada Shrine
A premier spiritual site in Tohoku, revered for its “Uranaiba” fortune-telling ritual.
Located on Nakayama Peninsula, which juts into Lake Towada, this ancient shrine is said to have been founded in 807 by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, a shogun who enshrined Prince Yamato Takeru as a warrior deity. During the Edo period, Towada Shrine was revered alongside Mount Osore as one of the two great sacred sites of the region, flourishing as a place of ascetic practice.
A walk up the cedar-lined approach leads to the austere main hall and worship hall. Within the grounds stands a small shrine housing an iron sandal, said to have been worn by a monk from the legend of Towada Lake—a tale in which a serpent dwelling in the lake was vanquished.
Towada Shrine is also known as one of Tohoku’s premier spiritual power spots, especially famous for its fortune-telling ritual at the Uranaiba (fortune-telling site). In the past, priests would offer a special “oyori paper” in prayer and float it on the lake’s surface; if it sank, it was said that the wish would come true. While the path to the original fortune-telling site is now closed, visitors can instead toss the paper from Gozen-ga-hama beach—or even take it home and try it in a bathtub or sink.
Highlights
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A shrine dedicated to Prince Yamato Takeru.
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Once flourished as one of the two great sacred sites alongside Mount Osore.
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Known as one of the most powerful spiritual spots in the Tohoku region.
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Famous for the "Uranaiba," a ritual site for fortune-telling.
Photos
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A sacred atmosphere envelops the shrine grounds.
Official FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions have been vetted and answered directly by each listing.
Q
Do you have signs or pamphlets in foreign languages? (If you do, which languages are available?)
Sorry, we don’t.
Q
Is free Wi-Fi available in the area?
Yes, it is.
Q
Are coin lockers available?
Not available.
Q
Are there restrooms available?
No, there are not.
Q
When were the buildings constructed?
The worship hall (haiden) was built in 1941, and the main hall (honden) dates back to the late Edo period.
Q
How old are the cedar trees along the approach?
The newer ones are about 160 years old, the next oldest around 260 years, and the oldest are said to be between 350 and 400 years old.
Q
Where is the tree associated with fertility blessings?
It is located in front of the purification fountain at the base of the "Otoko-zaka" (Men’s Slope).
Reviews
Details
- Name in Japanese
- 十和田神社
- Postal Code
- 018-5501
- Address
- 486 Yasumiya by Lake Towada, Okuse, Towada City, Aomori
- Telephone
- 0176-75-2508
- Closed
- Free to walk
- Business Hours
- Walk anytime
- Admission
- Free
- Access
- From JR Hachinohe Station, ride the JR Bus, get off at “Lake Towada (Yasumiya)” Bus stop and about 15 minutes walk from there.
- Official Website
- Official Website (English)