Omatsu Daigongen

Overview

Omatsu Daigongen is a shrine in Kamo-cho, Anan City, Tokushima Prefecture, affectionately known as the Cat Deity (Nekogami-san). Managed by the religious corporation Omatsu Gongensha, it is famous as one of the settings of Japan's Three Great Monster-Cat Tales. Cat-related lore fills the grounds, and worshippers come to pray for victory in contests and the granting of wishes.

Highlights

• ●The distinctive cat-related faith beloved as the Cat Deity
• ●Its identity as a setting of Japan's Three Great Monster-Cat Tales
• ●Worshippers gathering from afar to pray for victory and wishes
• ●The many cat statues and votive plaques offered on the grounds

History

Omatsu Daigongen has drawn faith as the Cat Deity, rooted in the story of a cat said to have cleared the grudge of its owner, Omatsu. The site is counted among the settings of Japan's Three Great Monster-Cat Tales, and the legend of a cat fulfilling its master's will has tied the shrine to prayers for victory and for wishes to come true. It has been safeguarded by the religious corporation Omatsu Gongensha.

Map

33.9149, 134.5527 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Head from the Tokushima City area to Omatsu Daigongen in Kamo-cho, Anan
2. 2Worship while taking in the rows of cat statues on the grounds
3. 3Offer a votive plaque with a prayer for victory or a wish
4. 4Walk the grounds while reflecting on the monster-cat legend

Did you know?

💡 True to the name Cat Deity, the grounds are dotted with countless cat figurines and votive plaques offered by those who pray with a determination to win, and its role as a setting of the Three Great Monster-Cat Tales gives it a character all its own.

Nearby spots