"Connecting with Gods" Kesennuma Goshuin Stamp Tour, Part 2

I'm Miki, a citizen writer who loves Kesennuma!
Following on from the first part, we will introduce temples and shrines in Kesennuma where you can get goshuin stamps.
Please see the first part here↓

★Click here for the map of the shrines and temples introduced in the first and second parts of this article↓

*This article was published in May 2023, but some of the information was updated in September 5.

Furuyadate Hachiman Shrine

Kesennuma city is said to be the town with the most Kumagai family members in Japan, and the Kumagai family is the second most common in the city after Onodera. Many of the Kumagai family members in Kesennuma trace their ancestor to Naomune, the grandson of Kumagai Jiro Naozane, who was famous for being the strongest man in Japan during the Genpei War. Furuyadate was one of the castles built by the Kesennuma Kumagai clan, and each castle was enshrined with Hachiman, which later led to it being called Furuyadate Hachiman Shrine. He is the god of victory who supports those who are working hard, especially in sports and exams, and locals often visit the shrine to pray for victory.

Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, thanks to the connection of Kumagai Naozane, seedlings of the early-blooming double-flowered Kumagaya cherry tree were sent from Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture, along with warm messages from the citizens of Kumagaya, in hopes of Kesennuma's speedy recovery. Even today, citizens of Kumagaya continue to send cherry tree seedlings as part of the "flower wedding." In spring, these Kumagaya cherry trees, along with Edohigan cherry trees and Somei Yoshino cherry trees, said to be 400 years old, bloom in full glory, delighting visitors. In spring, the temple's goshuin (temple seal) also features a cherry blossom design. Furthermore, thanks to its elevated location, the temple grounds offer views of Kesennuma Bay and Kesennuma Oshima. Seasonal eraser stamps, each representing a different season, are also available for a limited time. Each stamp is individually handmade and truly beautiful.

Oshima Shrine

Located on the middle slope of Mt. Kameyama on Kesennuma Oshima Island, this shrine is said to boast a history of over 1000 years, and is one of the oldest shrines in the region. The large rock within the shrine is an iwakura (sacred rock) where a divine spirit resides, and is the object of worship for Oshima Shrine. Legend has it that during rice planting season, a "snake" climbs onto the huge rock enshrined as the object of worship, and emits a blue light every night. Even today, the shrine is known locally as the god of rice fields, and is said to bring a wide range of blessings, including bountiful harvests, large catches, and safe voyages. Many seafarers visit the shrine to pray for safety at sea and a satisfying large catch, and people from both inside and outside the island also visit to pray for safety in their homes, safety on the roads, and prosperity in business.

Oshima Shrine was also used as a filming location for the NHK drama series "Okaeri Mone," and now many people can be seen visiting the filming locations and then worshiping at Oshima Shrine.
Kesennuma Oshima was praised by the writer Fuji Mizukami as "Oshima, be an eternally green pearl." You can see the beautiful scenery from the grounds of Oshima Shrine, and the view of the ocean is soothing. If you go further up from Oshima Shrine to the observation deck at the top of Kameyama, you can see a magnificent panoramic view during the day on a clear day, and a sky full of stars at night, so be sure to make the trip to the observation deck at the top of the mountain.

Jifukuji Temple

Jifuku-ji Temple is a Rinzai sect Myoshinji temple that has been in operation since the Edo period in Iwaizaki, Kesennuma City, and its principal image is the "Seated Enmei Jizo Bodhisattva Statue," which is designated as a cultural property of Kesennuma City. There is also the famous story of Enmei Jizo, and it is a temple with great power regarding "life," and is said to be the number one power spot in the Tohoku region for praying for longevity and extended life.

At the time of the earthquake, Jifukuji Temple's parking lot was a designated evacuation shelter, and students from nearby Kesennuma Koyo High School were temporarily evacuated there under the guidance of teachers and staff, but later, upon receiving information that an even larger tsunami was coming, they evacuated further away. As the tsunami approached, the chief priest escaped with his principal image, the seated Enmei Jizo Bodhisattva statue, on his back, and narrowly escaped death. The main hall was completely destroyed in the earthquake, leaving only the beams, but it has been restored thanks to much support from around the country. A "prayer square" was developed with the hope that people who stood still at the disaster site would join their hands in prayer, and it is a place where locals and visitors can pray.
In addition to the regular goshuin, there are several other types of goshuin, including painted goshuin with words of encouragement for those taking refuge in evacuation centers during the earthquake.

Ontake Shrine

Ontake Shrine is located in Tsuya, Motoyoshi Town, located south of Kesennuma City. Mount Kinpu in Yoshino, Nara, known as "Golden Ontake," is a popular destination for pilgrims, and is revered as the god of fertility and safe childbirth. It is said that Ontake Shrine began in 1201 when Zao Gongen was enshrined here, and he watches over the healthy growth of children as a god of childcare. The grounds are well-maintained, and with a refreshing atmosphere and flowers such as azaleas, plum blossoms, and crape myrtles in bloom, the shrine is loved by locals for its changing seasonal faces.

Looking west from Satomiya, you can see the summit of Mt. Mitake, with its inner sanctuary and bell tower, and on the approach to the shrine you can see the mighty Eiju-no-sugi cedar, said to be 400 years old.
At the annual festival held in October, the mikoshi (portable shrine) is carried from the Satomiya Shrine to the main shrine on Mt. Ontake, where the priest and parishioners stay overnight in the inner sanctuary. The next morning, the mikoshi leaves the mountain, passes through the town, and heads to the coast, where the "Oshio-Abori Ceremony" is held. The "Yamada Daimyo Procession," which is dedicated at the autumn festival once every three years, is a traditional event that is said to have begun about 10 years ago, when people prayed to the shrine for an end to an epidemic that had spread through Yamada Village. Wearing colorful hanten coats, the procession members walk around the shrine as a payment in advance for the mikoshi, praying for good health and a good harvest. People of all ages participate in this Yamada Daimyo Procession, and the tradition has been passed down for generations.

Whether you are visiting Kesennuma as a tourist or live nearby, why not go on a goshuin tour to get a feel for Kesennuma's history?