A Small Goshuin Pilgrimage Along the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line

📍 Osaka · 👁 771 reads

I'm Nene from Thailand. Since I was a child, I've absolutely loved Japanese anime and have been fascinated by Japan. After I entered university and started living in Osaka, I fell in love with everything about Japan, whether it's the food or the culture. I feel very happy living in Japan!

Today, I took the Osaka Metro and visited temples and shrines around Osaka City, experiencing goshuin collecting.

Do you know what goshuin is?

Goshuin are stamps given as proof of visiting a shrine or temple. Like this, they include the temple's or shrine's stamp along with the name and the date of the visit, handwritten in ink.

From the perspective of someone like me, a foreigner, the Chinese characters written in ink have a very exotic feel, like works of art! Normally, you can have the temple or shrine staff stamp and write in your own goshuincho (stamp book). Recently, some places also offer goshuin on special washi paper.

Isn't this just like the stamp rallies you see at tourist spots? Actually, it's completely different! Originally, goshuin were given as proof of offering a sutra to the temple or shrine. Now you can receive them just by visiting, but they are still very sacred and precious items. To avoid disrespecting the deities, be sure to pray sincerely and receive them properly. Some temples or shrines do not offer goshuin, so it's advisable to check beforehand.

So, let's start our goshuin pilgrimage!

First is the "Roten Shrine," about a 5-minute walk from "Umeda Station." The name "Ohatsu Tenjin" is more famous. This is the stage of the tragic love story of ningyo joruri (puppet theater) "Sonezaki Shinju," and it's said to be very effective for love prayers.

Start with prayer. Remember to purify yourself properly and pray with a calm mind.

Quietly offer your offering into the offertory box, then bow twice, clap twice, and bow once. Many shrines have illustrated instructions posted nearby, so you can refer to them. Pray wholeheartedly and sincerely.

Then go to the reception office and ask the shrine staff, "Can I get a goshuin?" Goshuin are not free! You generally need to pay 300 to 500 yen as hatsuho-ryo (offering to the gods) or nokyo-ryo (offering to the temple). They don't have change, so prepare the exact amount beforehand.

I didn't have a goshuincho yet, so I bought one first. I bought a beautiful blue original goshuincho with a design of the man and woman from Sonezaki Shinju!! The hatsuho-ryo is separate from the goshuin fee, so it was 1,700 yen.

The shrine staff writes it by hand~! I really wanted to see how they write! But that would be very rude. So I waited quietly and expectantly for the goshuin to be finished.

When you receive it, be sure to say thank you!

Look! I got it! My first goshuin. The brush-penned characters are beautiful and exotic.

The illustration of the Sonezaki Shinju couple attached nearby is also romantic. Maybe this will bring good luck in love?

Next, I took the Midosuji Line one stop to "Yodoyabashi Station," then walked about 6 minutes to "Shinano Shrine" (Sukunahikona Shrine). It's also just a 2-minute walk from Kitahama Station on the Sakaisuji Line. Shinano Shrine, also known as "Shennong," is worshipped as the god of medicine and healing, blessing good health. The shrine is among the tall buildings of the business district, so don't miss it.

Actually, this area near Doshomachi has many pharmaceutical companies. In the past, this was a district for herbal medicine trading, and it is said that people began to enshrine the father of Japanese medicine, "Sukunahikona no Mikoto," and the father of Chinese medicine, "Shennong Yan Emperor," to pray for the safety of medicines and the prosperity of the pharmaceutical industry.

Going further inside, the main hall has a paper-mache tiger, a symbol of warding off evil and praying for health. Recently, many people also come to pray for the health of their pets.

The goshuin here varies by season. Today, I received the beautiful May-limited rose goshuin. It is said that the stamp is hand-carved by the chief priest, and the soft color scheme is very cute.

Continuing one more stop on the Midosuji Line, I headed to "Imani Shrine" (Zama Shrine) next to "Hommachi Station." This enshrines the guardian deity of the Semba merchants, widely known by the nickname "Zama-sama." It is a deity that protects the safety of the home. The three connected torii gates called "Mitsudorii" are very rare in all of Japan.

This place is also famous as the origin of the surname "Watanabe" throughout Japan. Very interesting.

The symbol here is a white heron. I received a goshuin with chrysanthemums and two herons.

It is said that the solemn white heron is a messenger of the gods, guarding the chrysanthemum (the imperial family). Very cool.

The special goshuincho also features a white heron, very beautiful.

The shrine grounds are planted with many hydrangeas. During the rainy season, it must be a beautiful sight.

The shrine sits quietly among the buildings of Hommachi, serene and peaceful.

Next, I got off at "Namba Station" and walked 3 minutes to "Hozenji Temple," which is adjacent to Dotonbori, one of Osaka's most famous sightseeing spots.

The atmosphere here is very calm, a stark contrast to the liveliness of Dotonbori. The most famous feature is this Mizukake Fudo-son (Fudo Myoo facing west). People pour water on it with wishes, and the moss that grows has taken on vibrant colors, lush, beautiful, and mysterious.

The temple grounds enshrine "Fudo Myoo facing west," "Konpirado," and "Ohatsu Daijin," and there are many types of goshuin available, as if to help fulfill various wishes.

I chose the iconic Mizukake Fudo-son goshuin.

It is very solemn and dignified. This goshuin feels full of energy, as if it can protect me well.

Finally, I headed to "Daikokucho Station." After about a 7-minute walk, I reached "Namba Yasaka Shrine." It's also about a 15-minute walk from Hozenji Temple. This shrine is famous for its giant lion head and is very popular among tourists as an Instagram-worthy spot.

Have you seen it on Instagram or other social media?

This is a deity for warding off evil, curing illness, praying for love, marital harmony, and safe childbirth. Recently, because the lion's large mouth is said to devour evil energy, it has also become famous for granting success in life. In any case, this lion head is very impressive.

At Namba Yasaka Shrine, they also have the shrine staff write directly into the goshuincho. It feels like a special goshuin just for me, truly precious.

The special goshuincho here is also very striking!

This is a lush, green power spot. Perhaps you can gain energy from it.

Today, I took the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line and collected goshuin at five temples and shrines. Please take good care of me...

When I look through this goshuincho again, I remember the feelings and wishes I had during my visits—a wonderful travel souvenir.

I want to continue collecting goshuin from now on~.

Everyone, please try a goshuin pilgrimage too ♪

Table of Contents:

1. When visiting temples and shrines, try collecting goshuin!

2. Umeda: The stage of Sonezaki Shinju, Ohatsu Tenjin (Roten Shrine)

3. Yodoyabashi: God of medicine and healing, Shinano Shrine (Sukunahikona Shrine)

4. Hommachi: Nicknamed Zama-sama, Imani Shrine (Zama Shrine)

5. Namba: Hozenji Temple, famous for Mizukake Fudo-son