Tokoname Off The Beaten Path

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Tenmansha Shrine in Tokoname , just as thousands of shrines named "Tenmangu" in Japan , enshrines Sugawara-no-Michizane late 9th century scholar, poet and politician who is best known as a tragic nobleman who was practically ousted from Kyoto by being transferred to Fukuoka, Kyushu where Dazaifu office was then located. He is revered as the god of study and an ohyakudo stone pillar at the shrine may have been erected so that the wish to achieve the excellent penmanship could be granted. Ohyakudo is an old belief in Japan that the wish will be granted after repeatedly visiting the shrine by turning around the stone pillar for one hundred times every day for certain period of time. Some people do this for days or even for months. Guarding oxen are believed to be the messenger of gods according the beliefs in Kitano Tenmangu shrine in Kyoto. Popular beliefs also say that if you rub the head of the statue you will be clever, touch the part of the same body part you have trouble with then the ailment will be gone away. Tenmangu is one of the temples and shrines around Ono castle.