Ooi-jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Ooi-jinja is a small Shinto shrine in the city of Kameoka in Kyoto Prefecture, set among trees and quiet streets. The site includes a main wooden building with traditional craftsmanship, a worship hall, a smaller prayer space, a torii gate marking the entrance, and stone lanterns and small statues scattered along the paths.
The shrine was originally founded in the year 710 by imperial order, making it over one thousand years old. The main building visible today was reconstructed in 1584 after a fire destroyed the original structure during a period of conflict.
The shrine's name connects to the nearby Oi-gawa river, which holds a central place in the stories and worship traditions of the site. Visitors can observe local residents performing simple rituals and bowing before the main altar, practices that form part of their everyday spiritual lives.
The shrine is easily accessible in a quiet area outside of Kameoka and can be visited during a walk or drive through the region. There is no admission fee, and the site is open to everyone, with visitors encouraged to explore the space with respect.
According to legend, two deities, Kinomata no kami and Ichikishima-hime, came ashore on the back of a turtle and later a carp along the river. Because of this story, the carp is seen as a divine messenger at the shrine, and visitors may notice traditional carp symbols throughout the grounds as reminders of this ancient connection.
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