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Hōtō Shrine is located on the island of Takashima in Karatsu Bay. It was built about 450 years ago to honor the guardian of Takashima, Nozaki Onkimori Tsunayoshi, who repelled pirates at that time.
After entering the Heisei era, more and more people began to visit the shrine to pray for good fortune due to its auspicious name. Since some visitors have won large lottery prizes, Hōtō Shrine has become a nationally renowned shrine for lottery prayers. Every year, nearly 200,000 people still visit this small island to pay their respects.
After visiting the shrine hall, you can proceed to the grave of Nozaki Onkimori Tsunayoshi, located below the main hall, to pray for the power of good fortune. The shrine also offers unique talismans such as the "Bid for Luck" (必当守), which are believed to attract lottery winnings, so it’s worth stopping by to purchase one.
Additionally, within the grounds, there is Shioya Shrine, which enshrines the Takashima clan deity. It honors the guardian gods of mountains, fields, seas, and sake brewing, known as Ōyamakami, the god of all industries and the earth.
To reach Takashima, you can take a regular ferry or a boat taxi from the Hōtō Pier next to Karatsu Castle, which takes about 10 minutes. For those driving, it is recommended to park at the municipal parking lot in front of Karatsu Castle.
