"Welcome to my photographic tour page!!!" Sakura_Kobe's Profile


The year of the mouse
Guardian Mouse in Otoyo Shrine, Kyoto

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2008 is the year of the mouse. Otyoto-jinja Shrine in Kyoto has a pair of stone-carved guardian mice.

My daughter heard this shrine is good for those want to be blessed with new born, since mouse has lots of babies. So we visited the shrine on Jan.4, 2008. There were many people visited there than I had expected. This shrine is also said to be good for those who seek health, long life, and assistance with matchmaking. It is along Pilosopher’s Walk in the Higashiyama range in east Kyoto .

Gudian Mouse

(The background story from Kyoto University of Foreign Studies.)
Okuninushi-no-mikoto, the god of marriage based in Izumo Taisha (a major shrine in Shimane Prefecture), is worshiped as a deity. He was a descendant of Susanoo-no-mikoto, one of the gods in Japanese myths.

According to the Kojiki, which is the oldest historical book in Japan, Okuninushi went to another world. He arrived there and met Princess Suseri, daughter of Susanoo. They fell in love with each other at first sight. Then Susanoo commanded Okuninushi to sleep in a room filled with snakes, but Princess Suseri gave Okuninushi a snake scarf, said to be one of ten ancient treasures. The scarf helped him to sleep safely in the room. Susanoo imposed another ordeal on Okuninushi. Susanoo shot an arrow into a vast plain and made Okuninushi go to retrieve it. When he was searching for it, Susanoo set fire to the surrounding plain. The flames spread quickly and Okuninushi lost all means of escape. Suddenly a mouse appeared and told him that there was a hole in the ground. While he was hiding in the hole, the fire passed overhead. Then, the mouse gave him the arrow. Thanks to the mouse, Okuninushi escaped by a hair’s breadth. He finally married Princess Suseri.

Otoyo Shrine traces its origins back to this story. It is said that mice will bring the health, long life and happiness. The mouse statue on the left has a sake bowl, which means that if you worship here you will have a healthy baby.

  • Intro Updated Feb 3, 2009
  • Report Abuse

Comments (18)

Post a Comment   Submit Comment  
  • ashwini62's Profile Photo
    ashwini62 Feb 26, 2009 at 12:03 PM Report Abuse

    Thanks for your kind comments about my Egypt page. Looking to see your pics from Egypt trip. Regards Ashwini

  • ntm2322's Profile Photo
    ntm2322 Dec 20, 2008 at 8:16 PM Report Abuse

    Sakura my friend, Happy Birthday! Continue enjoying life and keep healthy!

  • Etoile2B's Profile Photo
    Etoile2B Dec 20, 2007 at 5:09 PM Report Abuse

    Happy Birthday from sunny California!

  • traveloturc's Profile Photo
    traveloturc Dec 20, 2007 at 2:56 PM Report Abuse

    Happy birthday to you from Istanbul/Turkiye...I wish that you realize all your dreams good luck !!!))))

  • GracesTrips's Profile Photo
    GracesTrips Dec 20, 2007 at 2:24 PM Report Abuse

    Happy Birthday, Sakura! Have a SUBARASHI day! Seaon's Greetings!

  • bkoon's Profile Photo
    bkoon Jun 3, 2007 at 11:33 PM Report Abuse

    Thanks for dropping by my Kyoto Page. Looking forward to my next visit to Japan. Bee :)))

  • heywinks's Profile Photo
    heywinks Jan 1, 2006 at 10:40 AM Report Abuse

    Happy New Year and best wishes for a prosperous 2006!

  • ettenaj's Profile Photo
    ettenaj Dec 20, 2004 at 2:32 PM Report Abuse

    50 today happy birthday!!!!

  • tompt's Profile Photo
    tompt Dec 20, 2004 at 7:58 AM Report Abuse

    Happy Birthday ! Have a wonderfull day and an even better year !

  • Caro315's Profile Photo
    Caro315 Dec 6, 2004 at 5:40 PM Report Abuse

    all lovely pictures! all the cities you visited are in my wishlist. No 1 place I want to go is Japan! & then Korea. How is it like there? =)

Share your travels with the world!

Join Now!
Sakura_Kobe's Profile Photo

Sakura_Kobe

“Enjoy everything”

Online Now

Female

Top 5,000 Travel Writer
Member Rank:
0 4 2 0 9
Real Name
Sakura
Location
Kobe, Japan
Member Since
Jul 21, 2000
Website
sakurakobe.com/index...h.htm

Badges & Stats

  • 207 Reviews
  • 287 Photos
  • 41,642PageViews
  • 15 Countries
  • 27 Cities

Latest Activity

See All Activity

Friends

See All Friends (3)

Travel Interests

See All Travel Interests (5)

Top hotels

Paris Hotels
26625 26625 Reviews - 51992 51992 Photos
New York City Hotels
19517 19517 Reviews - 30170 30170 Photos
London Hotels
26553 26553 Reviews - 43839 43839 Photos
Orlando Hotels
3818 3818 Reviews - 5652 5652 Photos
Las Vegas Hotels
9801 9801 Reviews - 16221 16221 Photos
Rome Hotels
14029 14029 Reviews - 24802 24802 Photos
Dubai Hotels
2642 2642 Reviews - 5910 5910 Photos
Sharm El Sheikh Hotels
1513 1513 Reviews - 2285 2285 Photos
Barcelona Hotels
11812 11812 Reviews - 20912 20912 Photos
Myrtle Beach Hotels
387 387 Reviews - 422 422 Photos
Kuala Lumpur Hotels
7102 7102 Reviews - 12683 12683 Photos
Goa Hotels
2324 2324 Reviews - 3734 3734 Photos
Istanbul Hotels
8964 8964 Reviews - 18401 18401 Photos
Bangkok Hotels
11752 11752 Reviews - 20953 20953 Photos
Panama City Beach Hotels
219 219 Reviews - 281 281 Photos