Kagawa｜Asahi Shrine: A Cultural Treasure Completed in 40 Years, Where a One-Yen Coin Can Grant Your Wish

The Kotohira Shrine, often referred to by ancient people as a place one must visit at least once in their lifetime, offers numerous attractions worth exploring. On your way down the mountain, you’ll encounter the Asahi Shrine. This shrine, built during the Tenpō era, features a two-story irimoya-style copper-tiled roof and exquisite wooden architecture. It took craftsmen a full 40 years to complete this masterpiece. Before the separation of Shinto and Buddhism, this site served as the main hall of Matsuo Temple, enshrining Konpira. Today, the deity statue has been relocated to Saidaiji Temple in Okayama for worship. Outside the Asahi Shrine, you’ll find two large water jars. These are known as "wish-granting jars," where it is said that if you can float a one-yen coin on the water without it sinking, your wish will come true. In Shinto tradition, there is a custom of dedicating sacred horses to the gods. In the past, samurai would offer horses to pray for victory, while at Kyoto’s Kifune Shrine, horses were offered to pray for rain. Nowadays, most shrines use statues instead, but at Kotohira Shrine, two real horses, named Gekkin and Luce, are dedicated here. Known for its efficacy in ensuring maritime safety, the shrine is surrounded by stone monuments donated by worshippers along the 1,000-plus stone steps. Many of these donations, made around the Shōwa 50s (1970s), amount to one million yen each. Considering the average annual income at the time was about 440,000 yen, this demonstrates the generosity of the devotees. Additionally, a shipbuilding company has even donated a 19-ton ship propeller assembly, a remarkable and valuable metal casting. 📍Address: 〒766-0001 Kagawa Prefecture, Nakatado District, Kotohira Town 892-1 🚗 Access: From JR Kotohira Station or Kotoden Kotohira Station, it’s a 10-minute walk to the mountain entrance. Climb 628 steps to reach the Asahi Shrine.