Ishizuchi Shrine Jojusha — Attraction in Saijo

Ishizuchi Shrine Chūgū Jōjusha, located on the mid-slope of Mount Ishizuchi at the 7th station, is a sacred site with staff present year-round. It is an important base for worshippers climbing to Mount Ishizuchi’s summit. Visitors can reach Jōjusha after a 20-minute walk from the Ishizuchi Ropeway. This shrine, along with Tsuchigoya Hōhaidō, serves as a vital location for worship and ceremonies on the holy peak.

Jōjusha has a deep connection to the mountain’s legendary founder, En no Gyōja (En no Ozunu), who attempted to reach the summit over 1,300 years ago. According to legend, while struggling to reach the peak, En no Gyōja encountered an elderly man sharpening an axe. The man told him he was trying to sharpen the axe into a needle, symbolizing perseverance. Inspired by this, En no Gyōja continued his spiritual practice and successfully opened the way to the summit of Ishizuchi, the highest peak in western Japan.

This mysterious elderly man is believed to have been Ishizuchi Ōkami (Ishizuchi Bikō-no-Mikoto), the mountain’s deity. En no Gyōja’s prayer for success was fulfilled, leading to the naming of the shrine as “Jōjusha” (which means “shrine of fulfillment”). Since then, the shrine has been revered as a place of prayer for the fulfillment of wishes. The name “Jōjusha” reflects this legacy, and the area remains a symbolic location for spiritual perseverance and achieving one’s goals. The “Mikaeri Hōhaidō,” or “Look-back Hall,” was established at Jōjusha to commemorate the spot where En no Gyōja looked back at the peak, giving thanks for the fulfillment...

I was here in late March, and presumably the complex is not officially open until April, so I was underwhelmed by what I saw. But no doubt this place comes to life when they are officially open, so depending on the time of year that you're visiting, read some other reviews to see what...

愛媛県に住んでいながら、石鎚山の成就社に行ったことがなかったので、お参りに！ ロープウェイがあると聞いて、主人はビーチサンダル、私は普段の靴で出かけました。

まずは、ロープウェイ乗り場までも、かなり山奥まで走ります。駐車場は¥700！そこからロープウェイで山頂へ！快適な登山^o^だと思いきや、ロープウェイを降りてから、成就社までリフトを使わなくても20分と書いてあるので山道を選びましたが、すぐに後悔__