Myotoku-ji Temple is not well-known among foreign tourists, but locals frequently visit to pray to the toilet god and buy underwear for good luck.
Located in Amagi Yugashima, Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, Myotoku-ji Temple is considered one of the region’s strangest destinations. The temple is popular mainly with locals and is rarely featured on famous travel websites.
Myotoku-ji began gaining attention in the mid-1970s when NHK reporters stumbled upon it. The temple worships Ususama Myoo—a deity affectionately known as the “toilet god.”
The Japanese believe Ususama Myoo is the god of pure fire, capable of burning away impurities. In ancient beliefs, toilets were considered unclean places associated with misfortune and evil spirits. Therefore, placing a statue of the god in a toilet area or within a temple was meant to protect people from bad luck and bless them with good health and daily well-being.
Right after passing through the gate, visitors will notice stone statues and sculptures resembling genitalia. Behind them is Ususama Myoo-do, the main shrine. The rituals here are also different from conventional temples. Visitors can participate in two main ceremonies: Osasuri and Omatagi.
Osasuri involves touching or rubbing the statues and carvings that represent male and female reproductive organs. The Japanese believe this practice helps pray for reproductive health or heal related illnesses.
Omatagi means stepping over a donation box designed like a traditional Japanese squat toilet. After stepping over, visitors place their offering money into the box. This is considered the official method of prayer, although it might surprise first-time visitors.
Another peculiar feature is the small shop next to the main hall. Here, visitors can buy underwear that has been blessed. This unique item is available in various sizes for men, women, and children.
According to the temple manager’s explanation, the blessed underwear brings good luck and solves sensitive issues, such as helping the elderly avoid dependency on their children for daily routines, helping children with bedwetting, or praying for healthy offspring. With this meaning, many people choose to buy them as gifts for their parents, grandparents, or young children in the family.
In addition to the toilet god, Myotoku-ji has other shrines, such as “Boke fuji Kannon” — the deity against senility, which helps prevent forgetfulness. Visitors often rub the heads of the elderly statues at the foot of this deity to pray. “Enmusubi Kannon” is the god of matchmaking, where young people come to pray for love and a smooth marriage.
(According to Tokyo Fox, Tabirai)
