HOME | DD

Description
Guardian Wolf Statue of Mitake Shrine [御嶽神社 (Mitake-jinja)]
He is certainly Komainu [狛犬], Guardian stature of jinja (shinto shirine). But he isn't a normal type of the komainu statue. Komainu in Japan originated Lion statues of ancient Eurasian continent as two pairs of Lion statues in lots of countries of Europe and Asia. But he is "ookami"(wolf). Some two pairs of komainu statues in Mitake Shrine are wolves.

Mitake Shrine is located at the top of Mount Mitake [御岳山 (Mitake-san)] in Okutama [奥多摩] region in Tokyo. Mitake Shrine originated a mountain worship. Ancient Japanese worshipped a lot of existences in nature. There have been innumerable gods in nature. It's not only "sun", "moon", "mountains", "rivers", "sea" and so on, but also "old trees", "big stones", "mysterious creatures" and so on. One of them was a wolf. And one of gods who have lived in Mitake Shrine is Wolf god.
It's one of episodes in Japanese mythology. When Yamato-Takeru-no-Mikoto [日本武尊] (who is one of the heros in Japanese mythology) lost his way in a mountain district, a wolf appeared before him. A wolf acted as a guide and leaded Yamato-Takeru to the foot of mountain. Yamato-Takeru was thankful to wolf's help. It's an origin of Wolf god.
There are some shrines which worship Wolf god "Oogushi-no-Magami [大口真神]" in mountain districts of Chichibu [秩父], Kai [甲斐] and Tama [多摩] area. Mitake is one of the biggest, oldest and most famous shrines of them. Therefore, some two pairs of wolf statues are dedicated in Mitake Shrine.
I think it's a very nice mountain for a one day hiking from Tokyo. Especially, I recommend a season of autumnal leaves.

Description
Guardian Wolf Statue of Mitake Shrine [御嶽神社 (Mitake-jinja)]
He is certainly Komainu [狛犬], Guardian stature of jinja (shinto shirine). But he isn't a normal type of the komainu statue. Komainu in Japan originated Lion statues of ancient Eurasian continent as two pairs of Lion statues in lots of countries of Europe and Asia. But he is "ookami"(wolf). Some two pairs of komainu statues in Mitake Shrine are wolves.

Mitake Shrine is located at the top of Mount Mitake [御岳山 (Mitake-san)] in Okutama [奥多摩] region in Tokyo. Mitake Shrine originated a mountain worship. Ancient Japanese worshipped a lot of existences in nature. There have been innumerable gods in nature. It's not only "sun", "moon", "mountains", "rivers", "sea" and so on, but also "old trees", "big stones", "mysterious creatures" and so on. One of them was a wolf. And one of gods who have lived in Mitake Shrine is Wolf god.
It's one of episodes in Japanese mythology. When Yamato-Takeru-no-Mikoto [日本武尊] (who is one of the heros in Japanese mythology) lost his way in a mountain district, a wolf appeared before him. A wolf acted as a guide and leaded Yamato-Takeru to the foot of mountain. Yamato-Takeru was thankful to wolf's help. It's an origin of Wolf god.
There are some shrines which worship Wolf god "Oogushi-no-Magami [大口真神]" in mountain districts of Chichibu [秩父], Kai [甲斐] and Tama [多摩] area. Mitake is one of the biggest, oldest and most famous shrines of them. Therefore, some two pairs of wolf statues are dedicated in Mitake Shrine.
I think it's a very nice mountain for a one day hiking from Tokyo. Especially, I recommend a season of autumnal leaves.