"Kotohira-gu （金刀比羅宮）"in Kagawa Prefecture in Shikoku is one of the most famaous shirines in Japan.
It is popularly known as "Kompira-san". "Kompira"means in Sanskrit the sacred crocodile" living in the Ganges River in India. So the gods of the sea are the object of worship in this shrine.
When I went there, I took a lovely express train from Okayama station. Since the writer of the picture book, "Ampan-man" was born in a town in Shikoku, Ampan-man's popular characters are painted on some trains which go to Shikoku.
The approach to "Kotohira-gu" starts soon when going out of Kotohira station.
However the buildings of "Kotohira-gu" stand on the hillside of "Zozusan" and you have to go up 785 steps to get to the main building.
On the way, I saw the bronze statue of a dog. (The photo below)
The sign says that in the Edo period (1615-1867), the visit to "Kompira-san" was a dream for people. However traveling was much more difficult than today.
Therefore, there was a custom that dogs came here to worship instead of their owners. People who couldn't come by themselves made their pet dog come with some money for donation. And other travelers took care of the dogs.
When I read the explanation, I coudn't believe it. But I found the picture below later.
So, the story must have been true. What a wonderful age it was!
---to be concluded--