Lake Tazawa isn’t just a scenic lake close to Kakunodate. The lake has a legend that a couple of the attraction on the lakeshore is related to it. And the center of the legend is associated with Gozanoishi Shrine (御座石神社). Not only can you worship the guardian god of Lake Tazawa here, but there are a few simple rituals/activities you can do!
About Gozanoishi Shrine
If you have taken Lake Tazawa Pleasure Boat, you would have seen the vermilion torii gate during your boat trip from Shirahama to Katajiri. Whilst the boat doesn’t stop in front of the torii gate, you can take a bus trip from Katajiri to the shrine, which only takes around 10 minutes!
Although the shrine is said to be built in the Muromachi period (1336 – 1573), it wasn’t named Gozanoishi Shrine until 1650 when Satake Yoshitaka (佐竹義隆), came to Lake Tazawa for sightseeing.
The head of the Kubota Domain (also known as the Akita Domain) rested on a stone next to the red torii gate of the shrine and admired Lake Tazawa’s scenery. That is why the shrine is called “Gozanoishi”.
Although the name of the shrine has nothing to do with Princess Tatsuko’s legend, this shrine has everything to do with her. After becoming the god of Lake Tazawa, this shrine is where people come to worship her. Worshippers come here for good relationships and good looks!
The Second Statue of Tatsuko
Next to the Chozuya (手水舎), where you purify yourself by washing your hands and rinsing your mouth, there is a second Statue of Tatsuko (with her dragon tail after she becomes a god)!
Not as shiny as the one in the Katajiri area, but worshipping this statue should be more practical and convenient than the beautiful golden one located in the middle of the lake (≧▽≦).
The Fortune Slip at Gozanoishi Shrine
If you don’t normally draw fortune slips (omikuji) at shrines in Japan, you might want to do it at Gozanoishi Shrine.
The reason being, well, it is fun (≧▽≦)!
When you first grab the fortune slip, it will be almost a blank piece of paper. Your fortune won’t appear until you float the paper on the sacred water (^_-)-☆.
And what makes the water in this shrine so special? It is related to Princess Tatsuko’s legend!
The Sacred Fountain That Made Tatsuko a Dragon and a God
Immediately to the left of Gozaishi Shrine is a parking lot with public toilets. Further to the left is a place called Katagashira no Reisen (潟頭の霊泉). It is the fountain that made Tatsuko a dragon and the god of Tazawa lake.
Although drinking water out of the fountain is not recommended, some people still do it anyway due to the fortune-teller function of the water from the Gozanoishi Shrine!
Breaking Your Bad Luck at Gozanoishi Shrine
Another interesting thing to do at Gozanoishi Shrine is throwing a stone representing your bad luck at the small rock in front of the old tree treated as an object of worship.
It is said that if the stone you threw breaks, your bad luck is gone. The idea is similar to breaking the jinx.
Putting whether this ritual actually works aside, it is just fun to follow suit!
How to Get to Gozanoishi Shrine
To get to the shrine, take the Ugoku Kōtsū’s (羽後交通) Tazawako Loop Line (田沢湖一周線) and get off at Gozanoishi (御座の石). Please refer to the timetable HERE.
Discover Other Attraction at Lake Tazawa
Obviously, Gozanoishi Shrine is just one of the many attractions around Lake Tazawa. The stunning lake has a couple more spots that you might want to visit. For example, the Golden Tatsuko Statue and the Ukiki Shrine in the photo are the two most popular photogenic spots in the area.
So, refer to our Lake Tazawa article to plan your trip!