Guide to Onoterusaki Shrine (Taito, Tokyo)

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Onoterusaki Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Shitaya, Taito Ward, Tokyo. This shrine is dedicated to Ono no Takamura, a Shinto god of scholarship and arts. An episode of Atsumi Kiyoshi, a Japanese actor, made this shrine famous. When he was young, he worshiped this shrine; he won the primary role of “Otoko wa tsuraiyo,” a long-lasting movie and TV drama series in Japan.

This article contains helpful information for you to visit Onoterusaki Shrine. All the data is worth knowing, including its history, highlights, enshrined Shinto gods, and access methods. Just reading this article will make this temple more interesting to you.

Outline

A Shinto shrine in Shitaya, Taito, Tokyo (Shitaya 2-13-14, Taito-ku, Tokyo, 110-0004.)
This shrine was founded in 852.
This shrine enshrines Ono no Takamura (a Shinto god of scholarship and arts) together with Sugawara no Michizane (a Shinto god of scholarship and business.)
You can expect blessings of performing arts improvement, academic achievement, successful career, etc.
The shrine office opens from 9 am to 4 pm.
Nearby stations are Iriya Station on the Hibiya Line (#4 exit) and Uguisudani Station on the JR Line (the South exit.)
A nearby bus stop is Iriyaeki Iriguchi on North Megurin Bus (Negishi route.)

History

According to the shrine, the history of Onoterusaki Shrine dates back to the 9th century. When Ono no Takamura returned to Kyoto after finishing his duties, he praised the scenery of the Ueno Terusaki area (currently around Shinobugaoka Jr. High School.) After he passed away in 852, local people built a Shinto shrine in Ueno Terusaki to worship Ono no Takamura.

During the Edo period, in which Japanese people practiced Shinbutsu-Shugo, a syncretism of Shinto gods and Buddhist gods, Reishoin Temple of the Tendai sect managed Onoterusaki Shrine.

The History of Onoterusaki Shrine

852

Local people built Onoterusaki Shrine in Ueno Terusaki (currently around Shinobugaoka Jr. High School.)
1625

The Edo shogunate moved Onoterusaki Shrine to its current location to build Kaneiji Temple in Ueno to taboo the unlucky direction of Edo Castle.
The late Edo period

Sugawara no Michizane was enshrined at Onoterusaki Shrine from Ekoin Temple in Ryogoku.
1782

Fujizuka (Shitaya Sakamoto Fuji) was built in the precincts of the shrine.
1866

The current shrine buildings were built.

Enshrined Gods and Their Blessings

Ono no Takamura (小野篁)

Other names: Ono no Takamura no mikoto (小野篁命), etc.
Divinity: A Shinto god of arts, scholarship, business, etc.
Blessings: Art improvements, performing art improvements, academic achievements, successful careers, etc.
Note: This is the main enshrined god of the shrine.

Sugawara no Michizane (菅原道真)

Other names: Tenman Tenjin (天満天神), Tenman Daijizai Tenjin (天満大自在天神), etc.
Divinity: A Shinto god of scholarship, sincerity, calamity prevention, etc.
Blessings: Academic achievements, calamity preventions, disease cures, etc.
Note: This god is enshrined at the main hall together with Ono no Takamura.

Kuni no Tokotachi no Mikoto (国常立命)

Other names: Kuni no tokotachi no kami (国之常立神), Kuni no tokotachi no mikoto (国常立尊), Kuni no sokotachi no mikoto (国底立尊), etc.
Divinity: A Shinto god of the land protection, etc.
Blessings: National peace, calamity preventions, prosperous business, successful careers, etc.
Note: This god is enshrined at Mitake Shrine, one of subordinate shrines.

Kunisatsuchi no Mikoto (国狭槌命)

Other names: Kuni no sazuchi no kami (国之狭土神), Kuni no satachi no mikoto (国狭立尊), etc.
Divinity: A Shinto god of the earth, life, etc.
Blessings: Huge harvest, etc.
Note: This god is enshrined at Mitake Shrine, one of subordinate shrines.

Toyokumune no Mikoto (豊斟渟尊)

Other names: Toyokumo no kami (豊雲野神), Toyokuninushi no mikoto (豊国主尊), etc.
Divinity: A Shinto god of the fertile ground covered with clouds.
Blessings: Huge harvest, good health, etc.
Note: This god is enshrined at Mitake Shrine, one of subordinate shrines.

Izanagi no Mikoto (伊邪奈岐命)

Other names: Izanagi no mikoto (伊邪那岐命), Izanagi no mikoto (伊弉諾尊), etc.
Divinity: A Shinto god of Kuni-umi (the creation of Japan), Kami-umi (the creation of gods), etc.
Blessings: Marital harmony, descendants prosperity, longevity and prosperity, matchmaking, calamity prevention, etc.
Notes: This god is enshrined at Mitsumine Shrine, one of subordinate shrines.

Izanami no Mikoto (伊邪奈美命)

Other names: Izanami no mikoto (伊弉冉命), Izanami no mikoto (伊邪那美命), etc.
Divinity: A Shinto goddess of Kuni-umi (the creation of Japan), Kami-umi (the creation of gods), etc.
Blessings: Fulfillment in love, marital harmony, safe delivery, prosperous business, etc.
Notes: This god is enshrined at Mitsumine Shrine, one of subordinate shrines.

Susanoo no Mikoto (素盞雄命)

Other names: Susanoo Okami (素盞雄大神), Susanoo no mikoto (素戔雄尊), Susanoo no mikoto (須佐之男命), Gozu tenno (牛頭天王), etc.
Divinity: A Shinto god of the war, sea, storm, agriculture, etc.
Blessings: Calamity prevention, household safety, good health, huge harvest, prosperous business, etc.
Note: This god is enshrined at Kotohira Shrine, one of subordinate shrines.

Uka no Mitama no Mikoto (宇迦之魂命)

Other names: O-inari-san (お稲荷さん), Inarishin or Inari no kami (稲荷神), Inari Okami (稲荷大神), Inari daimyojin (稲荷大明神), Uka no mitama no kami (宇迦之御魂神), Uka no mitama no mikoto (倉稲魂命), Uga no mitama no mikoto (宇賀魂命), etc.
Divinity: A Shinto goddess of grain, food, agriculture, industry, etc.
Blessings: Huge harvest, prosperous business, household safety, economic fortune, performing arts improvement, etc.
Note: This goddes is enshrined at Inari Shrine, one of subordinate shrines.

Takuhata Chijihime no Mikoto (栲幡千千姫命)

Other names: Yorozu hatatoyo akitsushihime no mikoto (萬幡豊秋津師比売命), Ame no yorozu takuhatahime no mikoto (天萬栲幡媛命), etc.
Divinity: A Shinto goddess of textiles, etc.
Blessings: Textile industry protection, pregnancy, safe delivery, etc.
Note: This goddes is enshrined at Orihime Shrine, one of subordinate shrines.

Sarutahiko no Mikoto (猿田彦命)

Other names: Sarutahiko no Okami (猿田彦大神), Sarutabiko no kami (猿田毘古神), Sarutabiko no okami (猿田毘古之男神), etc.
Divinity: A Shinto god of the guidance, etc.
Blessings: Traffic safety, calamity prevention, prosperous business, successful career, etc.
Note: This god is enshrined at the koshinzuka.

Highlights

Tachimono

Tachimono refers to the act of voluntarily abstaining from food or something you prefer for a certain period or a lifetime. People believe that the gods of Onoterusaki Shrine will bring you a business fortune even better when you make wishes with Tachimono. For example, Atsumi Kiyoshi, a Japanese actor, prayed with Tachimono, promising to give up smoking. As a result, he won the primary role of the movie and TV drama series “Otoko wa tsuraiyo.”

Monthly Shuin

A shuin (or a goshuin) refers to a seal stamp given to worshippers to Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan. Onoterusaki Shrine offers a different design of shuin every month. This monthly shuin features Japanese-style paintings with vivid colors. If you are into collecting shuin, you may want to get from them every month. Please refer to the following official site to see how their monthly shuin looks like:

301 Moved Permanently

Koshinzuka

Koshinzuka is a mound built based on the Koshin-shinko, a folk faith in Japan with Taoist origins. According to this faith, we have Sanshi, imaginary insects, within our bodies. While we are sleeping on a night of Koshin day, which comes every 60 days, Sanshi goes to the gods to report sins you have committed.

As a result, people have become accustomed to gathering on the Kōshin days and spending nights without sleeping. This gathering is called Koshinko. And those, who attended this gathering 18 times in a row, built a Koshinzuka to commemorate the achievement.

Koshinzuka at Onoterusaki Shrine has 11 stone monuments. And the oldest one was enshrined in 1647. This koshinzuka is one of the three major koshin, together with Koshindo at Shitennoji Temple in Osaka and Kongoji Temple in Kyoto.

Fujizuka

Onoterusaki Shrine has Fujizuka (Shitaya Sakamoto Fuji), which was built in 1782 in its precincts. People in Japan have been worshipped Mt. Fuji since ancient times. And Fujizuka is a replica of this mountain. So those who could not visit Mt. Fuji visited Fujizuka instead.

The fujizuka of Onoterusaki Shrine is made of actual lava from Mt. Fuji. You will see a statue of En no Gyoja, a founder of Shugendo, enshrined at the first station. You also see a statue of Kakugyo, a founder of Fujiko faith, at the fifth station. This fujizuka is designated as an important tangible folk cultural property of Japan.

The Twenty-Five Tenjin of Edo (#14)

Onoterusaki Shrine is one of the Twenty-Five Tenjin of Edo. This refers to 25 major Tenjin shrines in Tokyo, which enshrine Sugawara no Michizane. This concept was established in the 19th century. There is a similar concept called the Twenty-Five Tenmangu Shrines of Tokyo.

Every Tenjin shrine of the Twenty-Five Tenjin of Edo has a unique number. This number indicates the pilgrimage order. Onoterusaki Shrine is #14, for instance.

The following article features Ishihama Shrine, another shrine of the Twenty-Five Tenjin of Edo. Please read this article for more details about this shrine:

The Eight Lucky Gods of Tokyo Shitamachi (Academics and Performing Arts)

Onoterusaki Shrine is one of the Eight Lucky Gods of Tokyo Shitamachi. The Eight Lucky Gods of Tokyo Shitamachi refers to eight Shinto shrines in Chuo Ward and Taito Ward of Tokyo. Each shrine brings you a different benefit when you warship them. For example, you can expect blessings about academics and performing arts from Shitaya Shrine.

The concept of the Eight Lucky Gods of Tokyo Shitamachi was introduced in 1981 as a part of the regional revitalization projects of Tokyo. You can enjoy historic sites and feel the atmosphere of the Shitamachi area of Tokyo while you are making your pilgrimage.

For more information about the Eight Lucky Gods of Tokyo Shitamachi, please refer to the following article: