I went to Okazaki Shrine to buy an amulet for my relative who is pregnant. Okazaki Shrine is known as a place to pray for a safe delivery. Here you can find lots of rabbit figurines because many rabbits used to live around here and be considered messengers of a deity. Now I get it, rabbits are prolific!
This is the torii (a traditional gate of a Japanese Shinto shrine) of Okazaki Shrine.
When you walk through the torii, you’ll see the place to worship, called haiden.
As soon as I entered the shrine, I found stylish rabbit designs. It’s fun to find these things!
Two pretty rabbits are waiting for you in front of the haiden. One opens her mouth, and the other closes her own. It’s very rare to see them, because in other shrines, they are usually not rabbits but imaginary creatures called komainu.
When you pray, you’ll see two rabbits standing in front of you, in a one-paw-up pose. These beckoning rabbits bring you good luck in love and money.
What I think the best in the shrine is small rabbits in line. I saw some people from other countries take pictures of them. It seemed the adorable rabbits made them feel happy. Of course, I was happy, too.
A black rabbit is standing at the chōzuya, a place to wash hands. Looking up at the moon, the rabbit is full of energy. If you hope to have a baby and have a safe delivery, pour water on the rabbit, rub its stomach and then pray.
After praying for my relative, I was walking around the shrine when I met two rabbits. The rabbit kitten was sitting close to its mother, as if to talk to her. How cute!
I bought an amulet. I haven’t seen such a big circle-shaped amulet in any other shrine.
This time I visited Okazaki Shrine because my relative is pregnant. However, I bet anyone who likes rabbits can just enjoy the shrine. There are many rabbit-shaped things. It’s very interesting. I heard there are other things with rabbit designs that I haven’t found.
【Okazaki Shrine】
51 Okazakihigashitenno-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto
Tel: +81 75-771-1963
URL: http://www.okazakijinja.jp/ (Japanese)
Access: City Bus to “Okazaki-Jinja-mae”
