Oyamaafuri Shrine

The Ohyama Afuri Shrine was established around 97 BC. The main shrine is located at the peak of Mt. Oyama, at an altitude of 1,250 meters; the lower shrine is halfway up the mountain, at an altitude of about 700 meters. Ohyama-tsumi-no-okami, Oikazuchi-no-kami, and Taka-okami-no-kami (from ”Records of Ancient Matters,” the oldest extant chronicle) are enshrined as the main gods in the main shrine. Many military commanders, such as Yoritomo Minamoto, who started the Kamakura shogunate (1192 to 1333), worshiped the shrine. During the Edo period, the shrine attracted worshipers among common people, and paying a visit to the shrine (Oyama mairi) became popular. On a clear day, you can see Enoshima Island in the Sagami Bay, Miura Peninsula, Boso Peninsula, and Izu-Oshima Island from the shrine. A water fountain in the lower shrine, supplying gojinsui (sacred water), is known as the spring for good business and long life. A wide variety of events is held there, for example, Kasai-takigi-noh (a noh theater performed at night by the fire) is performed in front of the main shrine's office with the dark forest in the back, and Shuki-reitaisai (an autumn festival) is held every year, in which miko-mai (shrine maidens dance) and a yamato-mai (a prayer dance) performances are dedicated to the gods of the shrine. These are designated as important, intangible cultural properties of the prefecture. Take a bus for the Oyama Cable terminal from the Isehara Station on the Odakyu Line, and get off the bus at the Oyama Cable bus stop. It is a 15-minute walk to the cable car depot.