Kinkasan Koganeyama Shrine

History and Divine Virtue

Koganeyama Shrine stands on Kinkasan, a solitary island off the tip of the Oshika Peninsula, the whole of which is held to be sacred ground. Its founding is traced to 749, when gold was produced in Japan for the first time — in the province of Mutsu — and helped gild the Great Buddha of Todaiji temple; in celebration, the shrine was established to honor Kanayamahiko-no-Kami and Kanayamahime-no-Kami, the deities who govern metal and gold. Long flourishing as a holy site that also venerated Benzaiten, the goddess of fortune and the arts, the island has been counted alongside Osorezan and the Dewa Sanzan as one of the Three Sacred Places of Oshu, the old Japanese northeast. The saying that "three years of pilgrimage in a row will free you from want of money for a lifetime" draws worshippers across the water from every corner of Japan to pray for fortune and good luck. Deer, regarded as messengers of the gods, roam the island freely, and the primeval forest along the pilgrim path and the precincts overlooking the sea preserve the atmosphere of a sacred island set apart from the everyday world. Access is by scheduled ferry or chartered boat.

Visiting Notes

• Following the tradition of three consecutive years of pilgrimage, many worshippers return year after year.
• Sacred deer inhabit the island, and walking the pilgrim path in their company is a sight unique to Kinkasan.
• Ferry crossings are limited, so confirm departure times and your hours on the island before setting out.

Deities and Location

Enshrined Deities

Kanayamahiko-no-Kami, Kanayamahime-no-Kami

Location

宮城県石巻市鮎川浜金華山 (Miyagi)

Access

About 20 to 35 minutes by boat from Ayukawa Port or Onagawa Port

Lineage

Wealth & Prosperity, Benzaiten: Arts & Wealth

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.