Kotohiragū and Zentsuji

Kotohiragu (金刀比羅宮, Kotohiragū), is the main shrine of multiple Kompira shrines found around Japan that are dedicated to sailors and seafaring. Located on the wooded slope of Mount Zozu in Kotohira, the approach to Kompirasan is an arduous series of 1,368 stone steps. We didn't go all the way up to the very top, which time wouldn't allow, we targeted the main shrine of Kompirasan instead. Admittedly this was not the easiest approach to a shrine: 786 steps climb. The way up led through a street of merchants, entering a massive forest, touching several smaller shrines, a horse stable with white horses, and more stairs. Bamboo walking sticks were for rent from a self-service pile of sticks and a donation box of 100 yen for each. This place is a part of the pilgramage path. Most climbers were domestic tourists though. Some photos of our climb and the shrines:

On the way down we bumped into a local festival. The Ujiko Matsuri is a festival held annually on October 1 at the Gohonmiya Shrine. It's about purification, taiko drums and competition. This is how rural we went.

One station from Kotohiragu on the JR line is Zentsuji and the Zentsuji shrine complex. There used to be two separate shrines and religious institutions next to each other, which several hundreds of years ago became one and is united until today. The shrine is the number 77 from the 88-temple trek that goes around Shikoku's four perfectures.