Having seen a photo of an unusual mound located in a shrine in Kyoto, my curiosity was peaked. I knew I must travel here to see this with my own eyes. The unique & beautiful Yasui Konpiragu Shrine is nothing short of fascinating.
Getting There
This little treasure is tucked into the Gion District in Kyoto. I will put a google link here. If you weren’t looking for it specifically, you might just pass it by and remain completely unaware of its existence.
Why So Special?
Founded in the seventh century, this little shrine has attracted people from all over Japan for centuries.
Located in the middle, is a stone. A stone with a hole in it.
The Magic Stone
Often referred to as the marriage or separation stone, this potent entity is utterly unique.
Those who wish to strengthen a relationship, whether its romantic, work, family, business or such, can crawl through the hole in the stone from front to back while holding a paper katashiro (charm). Once through, this strip of paper is then glued to the stone.
It is these papers, glued by thousands and thousands of visitors that create this unusual oddity of an ever evolving and shape shifting, mound.
For visitors wishing to sever a relationship? The opposite action is performed. First a bow, then crawling through the hole from back to front, wishing silently of the relationship that needs to end.
So strong is this magic believed, as I stood there, I witnessed person after person, bending down, crawling with head bowed, through this tiny hole. It affected me deeply. The thought of so many people, either deeply hurting and hoping a relationship ends, or conversely, praying to strengthen bonds, is utterly heart wrenching.
To Be Present
The Yasui Konpiragu shrine is extremely compact. Close to the rock and paper mound, is a covered altar with bell, a very typical and sacred building. Surrounding this are a few concrete and granite garden pagodas, beautiful blossoming Sakura trees and other structures I know not what.
Because the site is so condensed and small, I could stand in amongst all of these things, enjoy the quiet, absorb the details and be completely present in the moment. There was no torrent of people passing through or past. Here you will find a truly unique, cultural and traditional treasure, that you can actually immerse and be present in.
