Left Horse Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, dedicated to the kami of horses and fertility. Its main hall features a distinctive curved roof, a common architectural style found in Odawara's ancient temples. The shrine is famous for its 'Otoji-ryou,' a unique system where devotees can offer their names to be whispered by priestesses into a horn-shaped bell for good luck.
- Religion
- shinto
- Enshrined kami
- Hotei
- Kami enshrined
- Hotei
- Coordinates
- 35.4047191, 139.4786758
Visitor tip
To experience the Otoji-ryou ceremony, visitors are advised to arrive early in the morning and wait in line outside the main hall before a designated time slot is announced.
Cultural notes
Left Horse Shrine is closely associated with the myth of Hotei, one of the Seven Lucky Gods in Japanese Shintoism, who is often depicted riding a white horse. The shrine's annual Hotei Festival celebrates this deity's arrival on Earth during the winter solstice.
Historical note
The shrine was founded during the Edo period, known as the Kan'ei era.