Mice-repelling shrine: Obara jinja

 

Obara Shrine

It is said that Ohara Jinja Shrine was established in 852 to ward off mice attacks on silkworms. At one time there was a religious custom here of receiving a pebble know as a ‘neko’ (Japanese for cat) from the shrine in spring and returning it in autumn. This was believed to protect the recipient from harm. Currently, the shrine is famous for its ‘anzan no suna’ (sand of safe and easy childbirth), and as a result has become known as ‘ubuya no sato’ (the maternity village).

Address :

191-1 Obara, Miwa-cho, Fukuchiyama-city, Kyoto