Collecting goshuin stamps (red ink stamps)) has become very popular in recent years. The number of young women who collect goshuin stamps, known as "goshuin girls," is also on the rise, creating a secret boom. Also, once you start collecting the goshuin stamps, which are carefully written letter by letter, many people become captivated.

This time, we went to Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture, to go to see red stamps. We will introduce three places: Sanko Inari Shrine, Haritsuna Shrine, and Inuyama Castle.

What is a goshuin?

The history of the goshuin (red ink stamp) is said to date back to the time when red seals were given as proof of achieving "Shakyo," a copy of a sutra from a temple. It is also said to be a sign of "karma" with the temple or shrine you visited.

The seal is not only stamped in red ink, but is also inscribed with the name of the principal image, the name of the shrine or temple, and other information in ink. There is a wide variety of seals, from simple seals to powerful seals written with a brush, cute stamps, and seals with a sign related to the temple or shrine.

Goshuin is a passport to paradise

Goshuincho and goshuin, which used to have a plain impression, are now becoming more colorful and rich in design for each temple. It's easier for the younger generation to get started.

In fact, many people do not know what to do with the goshuin they collect. What do you do with the goshuin you have collected? The role of goshuin is fulfilled when they are placed in the coffin after one's death.

No one has ever seen the afterlife, but it is said that they will be judged by ten kings, and finally, whether they will be sent to heaven or hell by Enma the Great. This goshuin will help you there!

By showing the goshuin, the training you have accumulated during your lifetime will be recognized by King Enma, and you may be sent to the heaven. Therefore, let's keep the collected goshuin carefully by placing them on the household Shinto shelve or Buddhist altar. If you don't have one, keep it in an elevated, clean place in your home.

Guardian deity of the Naruse family, the lord of Inuyama Castle
"Sanko Inari Shrine"

First, we went to Sanko Inari Shrine, a historic shrine located at the foot of Mt. Shiroyama.

Sanko Inari Shrine has been revered as the guardian of Inuyama Castle by the Naruse family, who have served as the lords of Inuyama Castle for generations since the Edo period. Located directly below Inuyama Castle, this shrine is well-known in the local area of Inuyama.

According to legend, it was built on Sankoojiyama within Inuyama Castle in 1534, and was relocated to its current location in October 1964.

The approach to Sanko Inari Shrine is also a shortcut to Inuyama Castle, so many people visited it even on weekdays.

First, visit Sarutahiko Shrine on the left side of the approach.

Sarutahiko is said to be the god who guided the descending gods to Takachiho in Miyazaki Prefecture when they descended from the heavens, and is therefore called "the god of opening the way" and "the god of good fortune.

The deities enshrined at Sanko Inari Shrine are Ukamitama no Okami, Sarutahiko Okami, and Omiya no Ookami.

It is said to have the same benefits as other Inari shrines throughout Japan, such as family safety, prosperous business, purification of land and houses, traffic safety, conjugal harmony, and marriage.

Goshuin for Sanko Inari Shrine can be obtained at the awarding office on the left as you face the hall of worship. The goshuin for Sarutahiko Shrine can also be obtained here (the first fee is 500 yen for the two shrines).

At Sanko Inari Shrine, we also received an original red seal book (the first earner's fee is 1,000 yen). It is decorated with a design of Inuyama Castle and a red torii gate, and the shrine names of Sanko Inari Shrine and Sarutahiko Shrine are on the back.

"Himeki Shrine" with a wish on a heart-shaped ema

Speaking of Sanko Inari Shrine, the heart-shaped ema is famous.

Himeki Shrine, located within Sanko Inari Shrine's precincts, is said to be blessed with good marriage between men and women, family harmony, and marital harmony. Many women visited the shrine to pray for marriage.

The deity that is enshrined here is Omiya no Meno-Okami. There is a legend that she met Sarutahiko Okami when there was descent from heaven, and they later became husband and wife.

The cute love fortune slips have different kimono patterns and expressions. It is also an amulet for success in love, so after drawing the omikuji, it is recommended to take it home and put it in your wallet.

Happy return? ! "Zeniarai Pond at Zeniarai Inari Shrine"

Sanko Inari Shrine is also known as the "double return shrine".

The name comes from the belief that if you wash your money in the sacred water of the Zeniarai Pond of Zeniarai Inari Shrine, it will come back many times over. It is said that if you have a lucky coin of purity, your family will prosper and your descendants will last forever.

Since it's a big deal, I tried coin washing.

Pay money at the shrine office, borrow a special colander, and receive a candle (100 yen).

First, light a candle in the candelabra.

Put your money in a colander and purify it with the sacred water of the Senaraike Pond. Not only money, but also lottery tickets and treasures are accepted. In fact, there have been reports of high lottery ticket winners!

Towels are provided for wiping your money, so don't worry if you want to cleanse your bills.

If you pick it up and feel it lightly, your wish will come true "Omokaru stone"

On the right side of the worship hall is an Omokaru stone.
Close your eyes and lift the stone while imagining your wish. If it feels light, your wish will come true.

It's a secret what kind of wish I made, but I was able to lift it up easily. May it come true.

[Sanko Inari Shrine]
Address: 41-1 Inuyama Kitakoken, Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture
Phone number: 0568-61-0702

Harituna Shrine, one of the five Owari shrines

Next, head to Haritsuna Shrine, which is located next to Sanko Inari Shrine.

Haritsuna Shrine is said to have the benefit of praying for safe childbirth and longevity, as Nobuyasu Oda, the uncle of Nobunaga Oda and the man who built Inuyama Castle, dedicated a pair of hand-carved guardian dogs to pray for safe childbirth, life extension, and longevity.  It is said that it is good to pray for safe childbirth on the day of the dog.

Pass through the second and third torii gates and climb the grand staircase to the worship hall.

The main enshrined deity is Owari Harinanemuraji no Mikoto. Although the year of its foundation is unknown, it has been enshrined here in Inuyama for over 1000 years, as it is recorded in the Engishiki.

Haritsuna Shrine's annual festival, the Inuyama Festival, is famous for its gorgeous "yama" floats, which is one of the spring traditions of Inuyama.

The sacred horse enshrined on the west side of the main hall is popularly known as the guardian god of children and child-rearing, and is said to cure chattering and twitching teeth by receiving beans offered to it.

Goshuin can be obtained at the designated booth on the left side of the worship hall (300 yen).

You can get an original goshuin book at Haritsuna Shrine (1,500 yen including the red stamp fee). Inuyama Castle and the floats of Inuyama are designed.

In the precincts, there is also such a cute omikuji (300 yen).

When tied to a branch, it looks like a cherry blossom tree in full bloom.

Harituna Shrine and Sanko Inari Shrine are next to each other, so please visit them together.

[Haritsuna Shrine]
Address: 65-1 Kitakoken, Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture
Phone number: 0568-61-0180

https://www.haritsunajinja.com/

Goshuin of national treasure "Inuyama Castle"

Finally, let's go to Inuyama Castle, which is a national treasure castle tower and has been certified as one of the 100 best castles in Japan. Even at Inuyama Castle, there is a "Gojoin (goshuin of castle)", and distribution started on May 1, 2019.

A "Gojoin" is a seal stamped on a sheet of washi (Japanese paper) with the name of the castle, the crest of the lord of the castle, or a floral seal. They are available at more than 200 castles throughout Japan.

This is the castle seal of Inuyama Castle, but please note that it is not distributed at Inuyama Castle! You can get it at the Inuyama Castle Tourist Information Center in Inuyama Shrine, not at the castle.

This is the gojoin of Inuyama Castle (300 yen each).

Mino Japanese paper is used for the paper, and the characters of "National Treasure Inuyama Castle" are said to have been handwritten by a local calligrapher, Mr. Hakuseki Matsuura. In addition to Tokugawa Family 's three-leaf hollyhock crest, the family crests of the Oda, Toyotomi, and Naruse families are designed.

This time, we introduced three shrines: Sanko Inari Shrine, Haritsuna Shrine, and Inuyama Castle. hey.