Otoshi-sha Shrine

In short

A subordinate shrine of Sumiyoshi-taisha Shrine, enshrining the harvest god, Otoshi no Kami. While it was anciently worshipped as a god of the five grains and bountiful harvests, in early modern times it gathered the faith of merchants and became a shrine to pray for successful debt collection and unchanged contracts. It is the final shrine visited during the "Hattatsu-mairi" pilgrimage of Sumiyoshi-taisha Shrine.

• ​Omokaru-ishi (Light-Heavy Stone)​​: A stone used for divination to determine whether a wish will come true, placed in front of Oitoshiboshi-sha, a small shrine within the grounds. After praying, visitors lift it once, make a wish, and lift it again, and it is said that if it feels lighter the second time, the wish will be granted. Lines form on weekends and on Hattatsu-mairi days
• ​Otoshi-mamori​​: Those who receive prayers are granted an "Otoshi-mamori," a small pebble inscribed with the character "大" (dai), which is said to bring blessings for debt collection
• ​The Close of Hattatsu-mairi​​: The tradition is to visit four shrines—Tanekashi-sha Shrine, Nankun-sha Shrine, Asazawa-sha Shrine, and Otoshi-sha Shrine—on the first Day of the Dragon each month. Visiting 48 times over four consecutive years completes the fulfillment of vows, as "48 Dragons" (shiju-hattatsu) is a play on words with "continuous prosperity" (shiju-hattatsu)

History and Highlights

​Otoshi-sha Shrine​ is a subordinate shrine of Sumiyoshi-taisha Shrine, located about a 2-minute walk southeast of the main shrine grounds. Its enshrined deity is the harvest god, Otoshi no Kami. While it was anciently worshipped as a god of the five grains and bountiful harvests, in early modern times it gathered the faith of merchants and became a shrine to pray for successful debt collection and unchanged contracts. A certain guidebook from the Edo period notes that Osaka merchants visited Otoshi-sha Shrine when they had trouble collecting debts.

Otoshi-sha Shrine is the final shrine visited during the "Hattatsu-mairi" pilgrimage of Sumiyoshi-taisha Shrine. "Hattatsu" refers to the first Day of the Dragon each month, and the tradition is to visit four shrines—Tanekashi-sha Shrine, Nankun-sha Shrine, Asazawa-sha Shrine, and Otoshi-sha Shrine—on this day. Visiting 48 times over four consecutive years completes the fulfillment of vows, a practice where "48 Dragons" (shiju-hattatsu) is a play on words with "continuous prosperity" (shiju-hattatsu). Beginning with sowing seeds at Tanekashi-sha Shrine, through nurturing growth at Nankun-sha Shrine, the pilgrimage concludes at Otoshi-sha Shrine for the harvest, praying for the fulfillment of one's heartfelt wishes.

Sights and Experiences

• ​Omokaru-ishi (Light-Heavy Stone)​​: A stone used for divination to determine whether a wish will come true, placed in front of Oitoshiboshi-sha, a small shrine located within the grounds of Otoshi-sha Shrine. First, visitors offer a prayer and then lift the stone to gauge its weight. Next, they place their hands on the stone to make a wish and lift it once more. It is said that if the stone feels lighter the second time, the wish will be granted. There are three stones in total, and lines form on weekends and on Hattatsu-mairi days.
• ​Otoshi-mamori​​: Those who receive prayers are granted an "Otoshi-mamori," a small pebble inscribed with the character "大" (large/dai), which is said to bring blessings for debt collection.
• ​Oitoshiboshi-sha Shrine​​: Originally a small shrine that gathered faith outside the grounds, it was relocated to its current site around 1965 (Showa 40). The annual festival of Otoshi-sha Shrine is held every year on October 9, followed by the autumn annual festival of Oitoshiboshi-sha Shrine on October 15.

Walking Tips

After visiting the main grounds of Sumiyoshi-taisha Shrine, it can be reached in about a 2-minute walk to the southeast. Asazawa-sha Shrine of the Hattatsu-mairi is very close, located about 30 meters to the north. Walking about 200 meters south brings you to the Sumiyoshi Temporary Palace, the historic site of the temporary palace of Emperor Gomurakami during the Nanboku-cho period. The closest station to Sumiyoshi-taisha Shrine is Sumiyoshitaisha Station on the Nankai Main Line, and it is also very close to Sumiyoshi-Toriimae Station on the Hankai Line.