Yugasan Yugajinja Hongū (Yugasan Yuga Shrine Main Hall)

Yugajinja Hongū, also known as the Yugasan Yuga Shrine Main Hall, is a historic shrine long revered as a place of worship for protection against misfortune.
The stone staircase leading to the main sanctuary is known as the “Misfortune-Warding Stone Steps.” As visitors climb the steps associated with the ages traditionally considered unlucky—33, 42, and 61—they silently offer prayers in their hearts for protection from misfortune.
At the top of the staircase stand a majestic large torii gate made of Bizen ware and a pair of Bizen-yaki komainu, or guardian lion-dogs. One of the komainu is especially unique, resting its right front paw on the knee of its right hind leg in a rare and unusual pose.
Within the shrine grounds are many different deities associated with blessings such as childbirth, academic success, matchmaking, and prosperity in business. Particularly distinctive is the “Octopus Deity,” a local folk belief in which the octopus—a regional specialty—is revered as a guardian spirit of the sea, with prayers offered for maritime safety and abundant catches.
This shrine is also known for a traditional custom called “Ryōmairi,” meaning “visiting both shrines.” From the Edo period through the Meiji era, it was believed that visiting both this shrine and Kotohira-gū in Kagawa Prefecture, affectionately known as “Konpira-san,” would bring even greater blessings.
Reflecting this tradition, the plaque on the torii gate halfway up the main stone staircase reads “Yuga Daigongen” when viewed while ascending from below, and “Kotohira-gū” when seen from above while descending.
In those days, travel between Okayama and Kagawa was only possible by boat, and Tanokuchi Port served as the landing point for pilgrims. Even today, a torii gate still stands at the entrance to what was once the southern approach to the shrine.