"Guardian of the seas, reached by 1,368 steps of devotion"
Kotohira shrine, Kotohira
Kotohira, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan
On sacred Mount Zozu rises Japan's most beloved guardian of sailors. For centuries, fishermen and naval crews, merchants and mariners have climbed up to 1,368 stone steps to seek protection from the sea god Omononushi. The shrine's Ema Hall displays centuries of maritime offerings—ship plates, submarine models, even rocket imagery—testimony to an unbroken faith that transcends eras.
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Quick Facts
Location
Kotohira, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan
Tradition
Site Type
Year Built
unknown
Coordinates
34.1867, 133.8183
Last Updated
Jan 12, 2026
Learn More
Kotohira Shrine developed as a center of maritime protection faith during the Heian period and rose to become Japan's second most popular pilgrimage destination during the Edo period.
Origin Story
The exact founding date remains uncertain, but worship of Omononushi at Mount Zozu began coalescing during the Heian period (794-1185). The deity's association with maritime protection made the mountain shrine a natural destination for the fishing and trading communities of the Inland Sea. By the Edo period, pilgrimage to Kompira-san had become one of Japan's great cultural institutions, second only to Ise Jingu in popularity.
Key Figures
Omononushi
Principal deity; guardian of sailors and all who travel by sea
Emperor Sutoku
Historical figure jointly enshrined; tragic emperor exiled to Sanuki
Spiritual Lineage
Kotohira Shrine serves as head shrine for approximately 600 Kotohira shrines throughout Japan. This network extends the maritime protection faith from Shikoku across the entire country, maintaining connection between local communities and the main sanctuary on Mount Zozu.
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