Welcome to Rausu-jinja Shrine
When Rausu’s original port area and fishing grounds were established around 1855, residents built a shrine on Mt. Rausu to honor a deity that would protect local fisherfolk. Over the years, the fishing industry boomed, and the population of Rausu grew. The shrine was relocated to its current location in 1887 to make access easier for the growing community. Today, fishing is Rausu’s primary industry, and many residents are involved in the trade.
Deity demarcations
Straw ropes (shimenawa) are common features at Shinto shrines. Visitors to Rausu-jinja Shrine will notice a shimenawa on the main shrine building and another wrapped around the large tree on the grounds. The ropes mark objects or spaces that are imbued with the spirit of kami, Shinto deities. The Shinto religion is centered around the worship of kami, which are expressions of life forces in the natural world.
Personal protections
Visitors can purchase amulets (omamori) at the shrine. The omamori at Rausu-jinja Shrine are believed to provide luck and protections, and there are amulets for academic success, safety in childbirth, safety while traveling, and general health.
Annual festivities
During the annual festival on the first three days in July, locals gather to give thanks to the deity that watches over the Rausu fishing community. Portable shrines are paraded on and around the shrine grounds, and there are dance performances by local troupes.