Arayayama Shrine

History and Divine Virtue

Arayayama Shrine stands in a wooded grove in the Araya district of Fujiyoshida, on the northern flank of Mount Fuji. Its founding is traced to 1534, in the late Muromachi period, and its principal deity is Oyamatsumi-no-Mikoto, the god who governs mountains, enshrined together with Amaterasu-Sume-Okami and Konohanasakuyahime-no-Mikoto. For centuries it has been revered locally as a guardian of foresters, farmers, and craftsmen — a classic mountain shrine. An inner sanctuary (okumiya) sits at Mount Fuji's second station, and after the management consultant Yukio Funai was said to have described the shrine as one deeply tied to financial fortune, it came to be known across Japan by the nickname "the money-luck shrine." In the worship hall of the main shrine rests the Oukagai-ishi, an oracle stone that visitors lift three times while holding a wish in mind, reading the divine response in how its weight seems to change; pilgrims travel from far away to try it. Though modest and without ornament, this village shrine remains a quiet place of prayer, open to the currents of Fuji.

Visiting Notes

• The Oukagai-ishi oracle stone in the main worship hall is lifted three times; if it feels lighter on the second lift, the wish is said to be likely to come true.
• The inner sanctuary at Mount Fuji's second station is about 30 minutes by car from the main shrine. The road closes in winter, so the visiting season is limited.
• Custom holds that one should pay respects at the main shrine first before continuing to the inner sanctuary.

Deities and Location

Enshrined Deities

Ōyamatsumi-no-Mikoto, Amaterasu-Sume-Ōkami, Konohanasakuyahime-no-Mikoto

Location

山梨県富士吉田市新屋 (Yamanashi)

Access

Bus or taxi from Fujisan Station on the Fujikyu Line

Lineage

Wealth & Prosperity

Visiting hours, goshuin (shrine stamps), and festival dates change; please confirm the latest information through each shrine's official announcements. If you find an error in this entry, we would be grateful if you let us know.