We call it ” Neko-dera “(cat temple)!?

Welcome to “Iyashi” “Nagomi” secret spot and sightseeing in countryside of Japan !

Hi ! It’ been a long time ?

In Spring...
Warm and very pleasant today, I am in a place where is very close to Mt. Ichifusa.

I told you before, Mt.Ichifusa is the ” Holy mountain ” in this area !

Let’s move to today’s destination.

This is ” Shozen-in ” temple in Mizukai village.

Most people call it ” Neko-dera “

That is because…

TWO statues of cat welcome us ! (Neko means a cat)

As you may know, most shrines have ” Komainu ” (the guard dogs) in front of or

by the entrance gate.

But… cats ? why ??

This pavilion was built for the cat.

Its name is ” Tamatare ” , that owner’s son was killed because of planning to raise

a rebellion against the Sagara Clan.

But... he was a innocent…

So the mother confined herself in Ichifusa Shrine for prayer together with her loving

cat ” Tamatare “.

There, she bit her finger off and pasted the blood on the God and ordered ” Tamatare ”

to lick it and become a vindictive spirit to bring a curse upon the Sagara Clan.

Thereafter, she jumped down from a place called Momagasaki and killed herself…

That’s profound grief story.

At the clan, in order to calm down the spirit , people constructed a temple .

This is a statue of ” Tamatare ”

A pleasing countenance !

”May your soul rest in peace…”