Ōyamazumi Shrine

Ōyamazumi is a Shintō shrine on Ōmishima Island in Japan, located at the western foot of Mount Washigatou. Several wooden buildings spread across the grounds, surrounded by tall camphor trees with thick trunks and spreading branches.

The shrine appears in records dating to 766, gaining importance during the Heian period as a place of devotion. Over centuries, military leaders donated armor and weapons, which now fill the treasury building attached to the grounds.

The name of the shrine means 'great mountain god', reflecting beliefs around Mount Washigatou as a home for divinities worshipped by sailors and warriors alike. Today visitors walk through groves where offerings of folded paper and coins rest against tree trunks, continuing traditions passed down through centuries of pilgrimage.

The grounds stay open year-round, with morning hours offering quieter visits and easier walks through the forested paths. The treasury building displays collections of historical armor and weapons for an admission fee.

Two remarkably old camphor trees grow on the grounds, with the oldest estimated to be around 3000 years in age. Visitors often walk slowly around the massive trunks, touching the furrowed bark that has endured through centuries.

Location: Imabari

Address: 3327 Miyaura, Ōmishima-chō, Imabari-shi, Ehime-ken 794-1393

Website: https://oomishimagu.jp

GPS coordinates: 34.24799,133.00467

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:06