EhimeTravel

The Island's Grand Shrine: Home to an Ancient Camphor Tree Said to Be 2,600 Years Old

About this spot

This shrine, enshrined in Miyaura on Ōmishima Island, is the head shrine of all Ōyamaizu shrines and Mishima shrines throughout Japan. Revered since ancient times as the deity of mountains and seas, it has been the place where countless warriors, including the Murakami Pirates who lived on the stage of the Seto Inland Sea, offered military equipment and prayed for victory. In the center of the sacred grounds stands a massive camphor tree, said to be approximately 2,600 years old, and the grove's sacred atmosphere straightens your spine with its profound serenity. The affiliated treasure museum houses numerous suits of armor and swords designated as National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, and it is said that a considerable portion of Japan's extant National Treasure and Important Cultural Property-class weapons are housed here. As the fitting conclusion to a day tracing the history of pirates, this is a sacred site worthy of the islands.

Tips

The treasure museum closes relatively early, so if you wish to view the collection, it's recommended to enter it first after arrival (treasure museum admission is approximately ¥1,000; visiting the shrine itself is free). After your visit, you can return your rental bicycle at the island's rental office and take a highway bus back to Imabari (confirm drop-off availability and bus schedules in advance).

Best time to visit

Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. In the late afternoon, the sacred grounds see fewer visitors, and the slanting light makes the camphor tree grove even more mystical.