If you ever travel to the Tohoku region of Japan, I highly recommend visiting Takkoku no Iwaya Bishamondo in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, and picking up a special talisman known as the “Strongest Talisman,” called Go-oh Hoin.
Takkoku no Iwaya stands quietly amid the expansive rice fields and beautiful natural surroundings. It is a spectacular place where the power of nature meets Japan’s history and religious traditions. Inside the main hall built into the rock cave, I found the Go-oh Hoin, known as the “Strongest Talisman.”
Although many Japanese people have connections to both Buddhism and Shinto, regularly visiting temples and shrines every weekend is not particularly common. However, visiting temples and shrines as part of a trip and purchasing talismans believed to bring good fortune has become popular, especially among younger generations.
The Go-oh Hoin is said to ward off misfortune and invite good fortune when placed in a frame and hung at the entrance of a home. I brought one home with me and have placed it at the entrance of my home in Singapore.
Visitors from overseas may find the atmosphere of Japanese temples and shrines mysterious and fascinating. I have visited many temples and shrines throughout Japan, but there was something particularly special about visiting these sacred places in Tohoku, surrounded by the region’s clear, crisp air. I felt a kind of invisible energy that is difficult to put into words.
By the way, the neighboring city of Oshu is the hometown of Major League Baseball star Shohei Ohtani. Interestingly, it is said that the “hei” in his given name, Shohei, was inspired by Hiraizumi.
ーーーーーーーーーー
Takkoku no Iwaya
16 Kitazawa, Hiraizumi-cho, Nishiiwai-gun, Iwate 029-4102, Japan
https://iwayabetto.com/
ーーーーーーーーーー