This year has almost ended and it\u2019s time to welcome the new year, 2020.
\nA new year day is the most important holiday event in Japan.
\nIt\u2019s a traditional custom that most Japanese visit a temple on the new year\u2019s eve and visit a shrine during the first three days of January.<\/p>\n
Kyoto has a lot of shrines and temples so people are gathering especially during the first shrine visit of the year.
\nThis time, we\u2019ll introduce a great shrine you should visit for the first shrine visit.<\/p>\n
There are twelve animal signs used as symbols for each year in Japanese Zodiac.
\nSome people do \u201cZodiac Visiting\u201d to get blessed by visiting the shrine related to a zodiac symbols of the year.
\nKyoto has all shrines related to zodiac symbols so many people all over Japan visit not only a main shrine but the shrine like that.<\/p>\n
You can find Otoyo shrine while strolling the path of the philosophy.
\nIt\u2019s not well-known but it gets popular once every twelve years.
\nWhile it is common to stand Komainu, or guardian dogs who stand at the gates of shrines throughout Japan, Otoyo shrine has a pair of \u201cKoma-nezumi\u201d, or guardian rats.
\nThere are only three spots to have that kinds of guardian statues; Osaka, Kanagawa and Kyoto.<\/p>\n
The pair of guardian rats stand in front of shrine to dedicate to Okuninushi no mikoto who is one of the representative god in Japanese myth.
\nAccording to the myth, Okuninushi no mikoto fell in love with a daughter of Susanoo and he asked for his daughter\u2019s hand in marriage.
\nThen Susanoo set various trials before Okuninushi.
\nThe last one was Susanoo ask him to bring an arrow in a field-fire.
\nOkuninushi no mikoto wasn\u2019t able to get out but some mice rescued from the field.
\nNow they are considered the messenger of god.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kyonaka-gozan.kyoto\/media\/koi\/sites\/10\/20191225-2-300x200.jpg\")
\nOne of the rats holds a scroll signifying scholarship and learning.
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kyonaka-gozan.kyoto\/media\/koi\/sites\/10\/20191225-3-300x200.jpg\")
\nThe other embraces a precious orb signifying good harvest and easy delivery.
\nGenerally, handling these products are prohibited but these guardians are exception.
\nThe prayers are allowed to put their hands on the scroll and the precious orb to get advantage.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kyonaka-gozan.kyoto\/media\/koi\/sites\/10\/20191225-1-300x200.jpg\")
\nThe main deity of Otoyo shrine are Sukunahiko no mikoto, Sugawarano Michizane, and Emperor Ojin.
\nThey are god of medicare, education, and victory.<\/p>\n
Other guardian animals to be found at the shrine are a most unusual snake,hawk and monkey, which stand before the Atago and Hiyoshi subshrines.
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kyonaka-gozan.kyoto\/media\/koi\/sites\/10\/20191225-4-300x200.jpg\")
\nPeople believe the snake is a deity of luck with money, though snake itself is an enemy of rats.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kyonaka-gozan.kyoto\/media\/koi\/sites\/10\/20191225-5-300x200.jpg\")
\nMt. Hiei and the Hiyoshi shrine on it are associated with the monkey.
\nThe monkey signify the symbol of things that protect people from evil spirits.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kyonaka-gozan.kyoto\/media\/koi\/sites\/10\/20191225-6-300x200.jpg\")
\nThe Atago deity is believed to protect against fire disasters and is associated with the hawk. <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kyonaka-gozan.kyoto\/media\/koi\/sites\/10\/20191225-7-300x225.jpg\")
\nSome goods related with rats are sold at Otoyo shrine.
\nThe important one is the rat shaped oracle.
\nThere are some patterns of colors for them.
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kyonaka-gozan.kyoto\/media\/koi\/sites\/10\/20191225-8-300x160.jpg\")
\nThree patterns of ink stamp written in calligraphy.<\/p>\n
Address:
\n1,Shishigatani Miyanomae cho, Sakyo ku, Kyoto,606-8424
\nOpen Hours:
\nFree
\nAccess:
\n5-minute walk from \u201cMiyanomae\u201d bus stop on the city bus at Kyoto station
\n10-minute walk from \u201cHigahshi Tenno cho\u201d bus stop on the city bus at Kyoto station
\nAdmission Fee:
\nFree<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll introduce you some other shrines or temples to do zodiac visiting in Kyoto.
\nTwelve animals has own their guardian god and deity.
\nOkuninushi no mikoto is a guardian god and Senju Kannon is a guardian deity for rat in Japanese zodiac.<\/p>\n
In Kyoto, the following shrines worship Okuninushi no mikoto.
\n\u30fbJishu Shrine (1-317,Kiyomizu, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0862)
\n\u30fbAtago Shrine (1 Sagaatagocho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8458)
\n\u30fbImamiya Shrine (21,Murasakino Imamiyacho, Kita Ward, Kyoto, 603-8243)<\/p>\n
The following temples worship Senju Kannon.
\n\u30fbKiyomizu Temple (1-294,,Kiyomizu, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0862)
\n\u30fbRengeoin Sanjusangendo (657 Sanjusangendomawari, Higashiyama ku, Kyoto, 605-0941)<\/p>\n
The following shrine worship twelve animals of zodiac.
\n\u30fbShimogamo Shrine (59,Shimogamo Izumikawacho, Sakyo ku, Kyoto,606-0807)
\n\u30fbOgura Shrine (83,Toriimae, Enmyoji,Oyamazaki,Otokuni District, Kyoto,618-0091)
\n\u30fbFushimiinari (68 Fukakusa Yabunouchi cho, Fushimi ku, Kyoto, 612-0805)<\/p>\n
You should receive such local information of Kyoto by an application “KoI APP”.
\nWith this application, even if you don\u2019t have Wi-Fi, you can find nearby stores and so on.
\nYou can install the application from the following URL.<\/p>\n