Iwashimizusha Shrine and Iwashimizu Well

Iwashimizusha is an auxiliary shrine of Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine, located on the eastern slope of Mt. Otokoyama along a path that leads to the main shrine. Both shrines are named for the mountain spring flowing on the grounds that is called Iwashimizu (“pure water from the rocks”). It is said that the spring served as a reliable source of water even in cold winters and harsh droughts, and thus residents of Mt. Otokoyama and the surrounding area considered it sacred. According to shrine tradition, visiting emperors and shoguns used to dedicate sacred water from the spring to the deities of the main shrine of Iwashimizu Hachimangu, and it is still used in offerings today.

The existing structures of Iwashimizusha date to the early seventeenth century. The well containing the sacred spring water is decorated with colorful paintings of waves and mythical creatures. The stone torii gate donated in 1636 is the oldest still standing on Mt. Otokoyama. The shrine building, the well, and the torii are designated Cultural Properties by Kyoto Prefecture.

The deity enshrined in Iwashimizusha is Ame no Minakanushi, who is said to help people fulfill their most earnest wishes.