 Image search results - "tarobo" |
Tarobo-gu is a shrine complex on a small mountain, featuring grand views of Yokaichi and a pair of Wedded Rocks. It is 1.1 km from Tarobogu-mae Station on the Ohmi Railway Line. The shrine's real name is Aga Jinja 阿賀神社. [url=http://goo.gl/mapMap of Tarobo-gu. You can drive up halfway up the mountain (called Mitsukuriyama 箕作山) which is 350 meters high. If you don't have a car, climb over 700 steps to reach the shrine's main hall.
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The shrine has a long history, spanning 1,400 years beginning with Shotoku Taishi who built Kawaraji temple on this mountain and also prayed at Tarobo shrine known for making miracles happen. Map
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Saicho, founder of Tendai Buddhist Sect, also prayed at Tarobo. Up to when Shinto and Buddhism was separated during the Meiji Period, both Shinto and Tendai followers worshipped at Tarobo."Tarobo" is the name of the Tengu goblin serving as the guardian of this shrine. The shrine god is known as the "God of Victory," for business prosperity, winning something, beating a disease, or passing an exam.
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Tarobogu-mae Station on the Ohmi Railways. Trains come from Omi-Hachiman and Yokaichi Stations.
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Tarobogu-mae Station on the Ohmi Railways.
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Tarobogu-mae Station exit has a tengu goblin.
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Tarobogu-mae Station's rundown bicycle lot. How rustic.
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It was autumn when I revisited Tarobogu.
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Tarobogu-mae Station entrance.
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The first torii you see right near the train station.
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Farm land along the way.
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Just head toward this pointy mountain.
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Tobidashi boya
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You can drive up halfway up the mountain (called Mitsukuriyama 箕作山) which is 350 meters high. If you don't have a car, climb over 700 steps to reach the shrine's main hall.
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Mt. Mitsukuriyama, home of Tarobogu Shrine.
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Honden shrine can be seen.
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Sanshuden Hall is a modern building where they sell amulets. Also has meeting rooms. 参集殿
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Entrance to the shrine's rice paddy.
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This is where the shrine holds the rice-planting festival on the third Sunday of May.
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The second torii near the foot of the mountain.
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Second torii to Tarobogu Shrine.
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Tarobogu Shrine on this mountain holds a bonfire festival on the first Sunday in December. Near Tarobogu-mae Station on Ohmi Railways Line from Omi-Hachiman or Yokaichi Stations.
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Jizo statue
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Jizo statue
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About the Jizo statue.
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If you don't have a car or if there'sno shuttle bus, you get to climb up 700 stone steps to the shrine. This is the entrance to the climb up.
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Good luck.
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Go up these steps.
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Yes, up this way.
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It's not so bad if you're in shape. Actually, I took these going-up pictures while going down the steps. (Went up by bus.)
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A significant rock.
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There a flat piece of land for the shrine.
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They held the bonfire festival in Dec. (See the separate album for this.)
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Entrance to the shrine.
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More stairs to go to the Honden main shrine.
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Priests
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Going up to Sanshuden Hall is a modern building where they sell amulets. 参集殿
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Great thing about Tarobogu Shrine is the views.
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View from Sanshuden Hall.
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Inside Sanshuden Hall. 参集殿
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Haiden ceremony hall 拝殿
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Haiden ceremony hall 拝殿
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Omotesando path to the main shrine. 表参道
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This narrow slit separates the Wedded Rocks, wide enough for normal-size people to pass through. Meoto-iwa 夫婦岩
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Legend says that the god split the Wedded Rocks in two. Legend also says that the rocks will crush any person who has a malicious heart or has told a lie. Most local kids therefore run through here to escape the god's crush. Meoto-iwa 夫婦岩
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Of course, the Wedded Rocks is also good for married couples to maintain a good and happy marriage. Meoto-iwa 夫婦岩
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Wedded Rock sacred rope
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Inside Tarobogu's Honden main shrine. Surprisingly small building.
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Beautiful views from Tarobogu Shrine.
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Beautiful views from Tarobogu Shrine.
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Beautiful views from Tarobogu Shrine.
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Near the first torii in front of the train station.
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View from Tarobogu.
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Suzuka mountains.
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Statues of the gods of good fortune are scattered around.
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Benzaiten, goddess of music has her own little shrine. Not just a statue.
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Benzaiten, goddess of music and anything that flows. Tarobogu Shrine, Higashi-Omi, Shiga.
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Ichigansha Shrine 一願社 (一願成就社). Pray here for success or victory.
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Ichigansha Shrine 一願社 (一願成就社). Pray here for success or victory.
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Ichigansha Shrine 一願社 (一願成就社). Pray here for success or victory.
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Ichigansha Shrine altar.
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Inside Ichigansha Shrine 一願社 (一願成就社).
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Ornate ceiling of Ichigansha Shrine 一願社 (一願成就社).
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Tarobogu's ema prayer tablets have a blank tengu goblin face. You draw the face yourself. How interactive.
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This way to see the Tengu statue.
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Another scenic path. Flat one.
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Small stone wall pillars donated.
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Walk around this post and another 50 meters away 100 times to eliminate your troubles.
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Walk around this post and another 50 meters away 100 times to eliminate your troubles.
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Pit for offering white stones
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White stones (which you can buy) written with your wishes or prayers.
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To go back, no need to go the way you came, take this flat path back.
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裏参道
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Way back.
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Interesting rock formation.
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Thus rest house has all these old paintings and objects.
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Tengu mask
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Biwa lute.
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Rest house
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To go back to the train station on foot, go down these stairs.
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Going down the steps from Tarobogu Shrine. Easy descent if you can walk.
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Lots of torii along the way.
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Quite pleasant with all the trees.
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Back down now.
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Nice visit to Tarobogu.
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The first torii is near the train station.
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On the day of the bonfire festival, they have shuttle buses going between the train station and Tarobogu Shrine. Highly recommend taking the bus.
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If you don't take the bus, it's 700 steps up from here.
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Get off the bus and here we are. A large clearing (shrine's parking lot) surrounded by a large crowd.
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Pile to be burned for the bonfire.
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Lighting the pile.
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The bonfire is used to burn about 100,000 goma prayer tablets collected from all over Japan. Tarobogu Shrine, Higashi-Omi, Shiga.
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The fire's spiritual force supposed to ward off evil, accidents, and sickness and cleanse you. Tarobogu Shrine, Higashi-Omi, Shiga.
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Kind of unique festival because it combines Shinto and Buddhist practices.
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The smoke can get very thick. People with a lung condition or clothing sensitive to smoke should not see this.
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Fanning the fire.
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Mountain ascetic priests chanting.
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Mountain ascetic priests chanting.
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Mountain ascetic priests chanting.
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Priests throw wooden goma prayer tablets (written with people's wishes) into the fire.
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Priests throw wooden goma prayer tablets (written with people's wishes) into the fire.
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Priests throw wooden goma prayer tablets (written with people's wishes) into the fire.
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Priests throw wooden goma prayer tablets (written with people's wishes) into the fire. Tarobogu Shrine, Higashi-Omi, Shiga.
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After the smoke is gone...
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Toward the end, there is fire-walking on the hot embers. 火渡り
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Toward the end, there is fire-walking on the hot embers.
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Prayer before the fire walk.
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I did it as well, wasn't so hot.
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Cool your feet in salt.
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The hardest part of the fire walk was putting your shoes back on. No benches to sit on.
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Sacred staff for the fire walk.
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Fire walk pit still smoking.
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Glad to take the shuttle bus back to the trasin station.
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