This Great Deity listens to all troubles—from drinking mishaps and matters of the heart to personal requests

Nonta Daimyojin is enshrined within Mitate Shrine, which was established by the Saijo Sake Brewers Association after receiving a branch spirit from Matsunoo Taisha Shrine in Arashiyama, Kyoto. Sake barrels from each of the local breweries line the grounds of the shrine, evoking the distinctive atmosphere of Saijo. Nonta Daimyojin is based on a legend passed down throughout this region about the tanuki (racoon dog) monk of Tanga-ji Temple. According to the legend, an old tanuki who was a master of moxibustion also loved sake. He disguised himself as a Buddhist monk to heal people’s pain, only to become involved in mishaps due to alcohol.
Drawing inspiration from this legend, Nonta Daimyojin will listen to all troubles—be it drinking mishaps, matters of the heart, or personal requests. You can get a free* Nonta katashiro (a piece of white paper in the shape of Nonta) at the Higashihiroshima City Tourist Information Center on the 2nd floor of JR Saijo Station. (*A fee might be charged during events.) Write your wish on the katashiro and place it in the offering box to make your wish come true. The katashiro are burned on October 1st, Nonta’s birthday, to purify the wishes.