⛩️ Towada Shrine

An ancient shrine located on the Nakayama Peninsula facing Lake Towada. It is said that this shrine was built in the 2nd year of Daidō (807) by the shogun Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, and it enshrines the deity Yamato Takeru, the ancestor of the warrior gods. During the Edo period, it was one of the two major spiritual sites alongside Mount Osore, and it was once a popular place for ascetic practices. After passing through the approach lined with cedar trees, you will see the main hall and worship hall enveloped in a solemn atmosphere. The grounds also feature a shrine that houses the iron sandals worn by the ascetic monk who defeated the great serpent of Lake Towada, as mentioned in the "Legend of Lake Towada." Another well-known attraction is the "Umazaka," used for divination to determine good or bad fortune, and it is one of the top energy spots in the Tohoku region. It is said that if you place the "divination paper," which has been prayed over by the shrine priest, on the water's surface and it sinks, your wish will be granted. Currently, the road to Umazaka is closed, and the divination site has been moved to Gozen no Hama, where you can also take the divination paper home to use in your bathtub or sink for divination.

A shrine dedicated to 日本武尊 (Yamato Takeru no Mikoto). In the early days, it was one of the two major spiritual sites alongside 恐山 (Oni Mountain), and it was a popular place for ascetic practices. It is one of the top energy spots in the Tohoku region. It is widely known for its "占場" (divination site) where people seek fortune and misfortune.