Ondake Shrine （オンダケジンジャ）

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A miraculous location thought to be flowing with mystical energy!

Area: Iki

Category: History＆Culture Nature＆Hot Spring

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The entire mountain here was considered divine until 100 years ago. Therefore, this was a sacred shrine that ordinary people could not enter. It is considered the place where the first gods of Iki Island descended. The grounds are adorned with over 200 stone monkeys. The rock behind the shrine is a location thought to be flowing with mystical energy. It has been confirmed as having a mysterious magnetic force that makes the needles of compasses not work properly here. This shrine plays the role of a man. There is also a shrine playing the role of a woman nearby. It is said that you will be blessed with a good match for marriage if you visit both.

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Information

Address		811-5466　長崎県壱岐市芦辺町箱崎本村触1678番地
TEL		0920-45-1881(男嶽神社社務所)
Contact		0920-45-1881 (Ondake Shrine Office (Yoshino))
Access		Approx. 15 minutes by car from Ashibe Port
Website		Tripadvisor

In Japanese mythology, the first god came down to Iki when this island was born. The mountain here was once so sacred that not a single dead twig was permitted to be taken home, for fear of being cursed by the gods. Even local residents were not allowed to enter the hallowed grounds, so they worshipped at the foot of the mountain, and it is said that their piety was richly blessed.
The custom at this shrine, unlike others, has been to offer stone sculptures of monkeys, because the god venerated here is called Sarutahiko-no-Mikoto, and saru means “monkey” in Japanese. This word is also homonymous with another saru that means “to depart,” and so supplicants have made offerings here with prayers for the end of such things as illnesses, poor catches of fish, and bad harvests.
Offerings of stone cow sculptures have also been made at this shrine. This practice was begun by someone who prayed for successful breeding of their herd, which led to others following suit. Presently, there are about 230 monkey statues and 30 stone cattle placed here.