KOTOHIRA-Gu, or, more familiarly, Kompira-san, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the guardian gods of the sea, fertility and medicine. Shinto (the Way of the Gods), is polytheistic, has its roots in ancient Japanese mythology, and strongly emphasizes love of nature, the importance of family, and physical cleanliness.

During the Edo period (1603～1867), when pilgrimage was the only form of travel permitted to common folk, people dreamed of "making a pilgrimage to KOTOHIRA-Gu". Still, today, visitors to Shikoku from all over Japan make a particular point of visiting Kompira-san.

A special feature of the shrine is its location - high up the eastern slope of Zozu-san (named for its profile resembling an elephant) and accessed by the purifying effort of climbing up 785 stone steps to the Gohon-Gu (main shrine) itself.

Fortunately, there are many secondary shrines, fascinating examples of sculpture and architecture and other diversions on the way to provide an excuse for a break in the climb.

Halfway up you will come to what seems to be a small'parade ground'. Another 30 or so steps up again and you will face a T-junction. You can go left from the T-junction to continue up to the Gohon-Gu (main shrine). But if you go right, you will pass through a large gate and come to a beautiful old building housing galleries, the Omote-Shoin Art Museum, Oku-Shoin, (open on special occasions), and Shiro-Shoin (open on special occasions).

The beautiful garden and pond beside Omote-Shoin will entice you to sit and rest before continuing and houses art treasures designated as Important Cultural Properties. Omote-Shoin houses sliding paper doors painted by the renowned Edo-era artist, Maruyama Okyo (1733~1795). Oku-Shoin (open only on special occasions) has paintings by Itoh Jakuchu.

Resuming the climb, there's a turn to the right 80 meters after the T-junction,. But note the entrance to the tea-room and restaurant, Kamitsubaki, on the left. You may want to rest here on your way back.

There was always a tea room here, dating from 1797, donated by Yamatoya Yasaburo. This building, unfortunately, blocked the forest view to the south, and so was shifted north to construct a cafe below ground level and a restaurant below that. The walls feature tiles of camelia and glazed in Arita, Kyushu in "Fukagawa Blue" by Fukagawa Seiji.

You'll pass the largest building on the site, Asahi-Sha, which sits on the last flat place before the steep climb up to the Gohon-Gu(main shrine).

Gohon-Gu (main shrine), is appropriately impressive. Every thirty-three years its fabulous layered bark roof is replaced. Note the gorgeous ceiling panels, hand-painted in kiji-makie URUSHI style by artists at Wajima on the Japan Sea.

Look to the north for views out over the Seto Inland Sea, and across the plain below to a mountain so symmetrical it is called Sanuki-Fuji. As you leave the Gohon-Gu (main shrine), before starting back down, you will pass stands offering shrine merchandise. New Year favorites include decorative archery arrows, and there are a variety of tablets to place in your home for safety of the homestead, for success in exams or other endeavors, or for safety at sea (making this shrine especially important to sailors and fishermen), among others.

If you climb another 583 steps from Gohon-Gu (main shrine), Oku-Sha (Izutama shrine) the guardian deity of Gohon-Gu (main shrine), is enshrined. You can overlook the Sanuki plain from the observation deck. On the mountain side where I look back, there is the face of Tengu who is said to be the god of Oku-Sha (Izutama shrine). And Karasu Tengu, who prays for the safety of traveler.

The most solemn festival is held October 9~11, when Kami-sama (God), in a portable shrine, accompanied by the Chief Priest in an elaborate palanquin and a retinue of other shrine priests and shrine maidens, guards and footman a procession down from the Gohon-Gu (main shrine) to take up temporary residence at the shrine. grounds across Saya-Bashi. Equally spectacular is the Kami-sama's midnight return, culminating in an unbelievable dash up the last and steepest flight of steps into the Gohon-Gu (main shrine).

Kemari, a colorful pageant of "soccer skills" by shrine priests in colorful classic costume, can only be seen in Kyoto, or here at Kompira-san on the ground in front of Omote-Shoin. The Kemari ground is defined by four forked trees, a pine, cherry, willow and maple. Gods are said to be sitting in the forks enjoying the display. Not to be missed, kemari is on May 5, July 7, and in late December.