The shrine has become a pilgrimage site for fans of the Japanese pop group Arashi due to its name connection with member Ohno Satoshi. Additionally, the head priest's name is Ohmiya Satoshi, which combines elements of two Arashi members' names (Ohno and Ohmiya Kazunari). The shrine capitalizes on this connection by offering special talismans themed around the group's five members, making it a meaningful destination for devoted fans seeking good luck charms associated with their favorite artists.
No, there is no admission fee to enter the shrine grounds. Visitors can freely explore the premises and view the historic tower gate without charge. However, if you wish to purchase talismans, omamori (protective amulets), or other religious items from the shrine, these are available for individual purchase at the shrine office.
From Kyoto or Osaka, take the JR Biwako Line to Kusatsu Station. From there, board a bus heading toward the Konze area for approximately 35 minutes. Alight at the Community Center Konze bus stop, then walk for about 15 minutes to reach the shrine at the foot of Mt. Konzesan. The shrine is located at 896 Arahari, Ritto City, Shiga Prefecture.
The principal deity enshrined at Ono Jinja is Sugawara no Michizane, a historical figure from the Heian period who is widely venerated across Japan as the god of learning and scholarship. As a soja-type shrine, Ono Jinja also enshrines multiple other deities in one location, historically serving as a central place of worship for the surrounding region.
Arrived at 12:00 on Saturday. The weather was sunny.
Access
10 minutes by car from JR Tehara Station
20 minutes from JR Kusatsu Station
Free parking🅿️ (20 spaces total)
A moderate number of worshippers, about 20 in total. ^ ^
Mostly families. 👶🧑🧑🧒
The path leading to the shrine grounds was filled with food, drink, and goldfish vendors.
There was even a daruma doll named after Arashi's Ohno. 🩷
The grounds are compact, about 50 meters clockwise. 🎵
There's a watering hole for commemorative photos, stone monuments depicting horses and cows, and a majestic, large tree.
The torii gate is located near the road, so it's easier to get there by exiting onto the road (narrow road) and then re-entering. ( ◠‿◠ )
I'm a man born in Hinoeuma, the year of the horse. I visited from Osaka after hearing that it's a horse shrine. Perhaps because I have the same name as Arashi's Ohno, it feels like it's tied to Arashi. It seems to be frequented by many fans, and many of the votive plaques have prayers written on them, such as "May I win tickets to their last live concert." There was even a prayer for winning tickets to Aぇ! group's live concert. There's ample free parking, making it an easy place to visit. Dogs are allowed to visit, and there's a dog run on the premises, a service where you can get your dog's paw stamped, and dog food for sale.
On Sunday, I decided to go to a place called Ohno Shrine, which I heard was featured briefly on TV.
I didn't know about it before I got there, but even though it's not directly related to Arashi, there were a lot of things here and there that were heavily related to the group. Frankly, I was a bit disappointed. 🥹
It's a shrine that just happens to share the same name, and the place where the deity is enshrined is so heavily focused on the biggest entertainment group. Honestly, I was pretty put off.
But the building and the deity enshrined there were well-maintained, so I'm glad I went.
I came to pray at the shrine because it is a shrine dedicated to the winning horse, but it seems to be famous for Arashi, and many of the goshuin stamps and votive plaques were related to Arashi. There was a huge hornet's nest under the eaves, and the kids were making a fuss lol
