2023 is the year of the rabbit, the year of the rabbit. There are many rabbit-related shrines throughout Japan. Since rabbits are abundant, many shrines pray for marriage, safe birth, and good health. This time, we will introduce 5 rabbit shrines from all over Japan. Why not visit the rabbit shrine for hats in 2023?
Yuwai Rabbit at Kumano Taisha Shrine (Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture) Photo: PIXTA
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White Rabbit Shrine (Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture)
Shirato Shrine Worship Hall Photo = Photo Library
Popular as a matchmaking spot
“Hakuto Shrine” is dedicated to the white rabbit god of the Japanese myth “The White Rabbit of Inaba”, recorded in Japan’s oldest history book, “Kojiki”. Based on myth, the shrine is believed to be effective against skin diseases and burns.
Along the road leading to the vicinity, there is a pond called “Mitarashi Pond,” which is said to wash and heal the wounds of Inaba’s white rabbits.
It is said that if you make a wish on the “Musubi-ishi”, which consists of five stones, and place it on the torii gate or the stone statue of a white rabbit, your wish will come true.
The Inaba white rabbit is also popular as a mating ground, as the Izumo White Rabbit is said to have made contact with Princess Yakami of Inaba.
Hakuto Shrine (https://hakutojinja.jp/)
Okazaki Shrine (Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture)
Okazaki Shrine Photo = Photo Library
Invited rabbits and rabbit omikuji
Okazaki Shrine is located near Heian Shrine. When the capital was moved to Heian in 794, it was one of the shrines built on the four sides of Heian-kyo to protect the royal castle.
Rabbits can be seen in various places in the vicinity, such as guardian rabbits, beckoning rabbits, black rabbits in the chozubachi, which are said to bring blessings for having children, paper lanterns, shoji screens, votive plaques, and fortune slips.
The embodied deity Susanowo-no-Mikoto and Kiinadahime-no-Mikoto have three daughters and five sons, Mikogami, and since rabbits are abundant, rabbits are believed to be messengers of the deity embodied in Okazaki Shrine.
Okazaki Shrine ( https://okazakijinja.jp/ )
