Tamatsukuriyu Shrine: Visit the Guardian Deities of Matsue's Tamatsukuri Onsen
Tamatsukuriyu Shrine (Tamatsukuriyu Jinja) is an ancient shrine dedicated to the deities of jewel-making and hot springs, set at the far end of the Tamatsukuri Onsen resort in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture.
Many worshipers come for the Negai-ishi, a wishing stone said to grant wishes when touched while praying, and the Kanai-ishi, a small stone taken home to share in its power.
This article explains the difference between the two stones, how to pray and make a Kanai-ishi amulet, how to get there, and places to explore around the hot spring town.
How to Pronounce Tamatsukuriyu Shrine and Distinguish Its Japanese Spelling
The shrine's name is pronounced “Tamatsukuriyu Jinja.”
The hot spring's name is written 玉造, while the shrine's official name uses 玉作; both are pronounced Tamatsukuri.
When finding it on a map or explaining your destination locally, showing the Japanese name “玉作湯神社” (Tamatsukuriyu Shrine) can make communication easier.
When using a map app, also note its address: 508 Tamatsukuri, Tamayu-chō, Matsue, Shimane Prefecture.
Deities Associated with Magatama Jewels and Hot Springs
Tamatsukuri has been a center for making jewels, including curved magatama beads, since ancient times.
Tamatsukuriyu Shrine enshrines deities including Kushiakarudama no Mikoto, associated with jewel-making, and Ōnamochi no Mikoto and Sukunahikona no Mikoto, protectors of the hot springs.
Kushiakarudama no Mikoto is said to have made precious jewels including Yasakani no Magatama, one of Japan's Three Sacred Treasures, and is worshiped as the ancestral deity of Izumo's Tamatsukuri-be jewel-makers.
Ōnamochi no Mikoto and Sukunahikona no Mikoto are traditionally said to have discovered Tamatsukuri Onsen and are enshrined as its guardian deities.
Karakuni Itate no Yashiro, another shrine within the grounds, enshrines Itakeru no Mikoto, regarded as a guardian deity of tree planting, forest cultivation, and industrial prosperity.
With deities connected to both jewels and hot springs, this is a place to appreciate not only the waters but also the craftsmanship and faith passed down locally.
An Ancient Shrine in the Izumo no Kuni Fudoki and Its Important Cultural Properties
Tamatsukuriyu Shrine is an ancient shrine recorded as Tamatsukuriyu-sha in the Izumo no Kuni Fudoki, a provincial gazetteer completed in 733.
The shrine owns jewels, unfinished beads, whetstones, and other objects excavated in Tamayu-chō, collectively designated a national Important Cultural Property as “Artifacts Excavated from the Jewel-Making Sites of Izumo Province.”
The designation includes 184 jewels and unfinished examples, 162 whetstones including fragments, and 11 glass lumps, among other items, which are kept in the shrine's repository.
Knowing that the shrine both protects the hot spring town and preserves the history of ancient jewel-making can add depth to your visit.
Negai-ishi and Kanai-ishi: Understanding the Two Wishing Stones
The Negai-ishi is the stone enshrined on the grounds, while the Kanai-ishi is the stone you take home with your wish.
Their names are similar, but understanding their different roles will make the worship process easier to follow.
Madama: The Round Wishing Stone Revered Since Ancient Times
Madama, a naturally rounded stone on the grounds, is known as the Negai-ishi and is traditionally said to grant wishes when you touch it and pray.
The wishing stone is enshrined beside the main sanctuary and attracts many visitors as a place believed to hold spiritual power.
Making a wish is a moment to experience a faith cherished in this area.
Look at the stone before you and gather your thoughts about your wishes and everyday gratitude before praying.
The Kanai-ishi: An Amulet to Take Home with Your Prayers
The Kanai-ishi received at the shrine office is touched against the Negai-ishi while praying and then placed in an amulet pouch together with a wish slip.
The Kanai-ishi set contains a stone, a wish slip, and an amulet pouch.
The offering for a Kanai-ishi set is 600 yen.
Purifying the stone, writing your wish, and placing everything in the pouch yourself are also part of the visit.
Treat the blessings as a matter of faith and tradition, and value the time spent reflecting on your own wish.
Shrine Terms and Pronunciations to Learn Before Visiting
Shrine guidance uses words you may not encounter in everyday conversation.
The following table explains some terms you will see during your visit.
| Term | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Shrine office | Shamusho | The place handling shrine administration |
| Purification pavilion | Temizuya | A place to cleanse your hands and mouth |
| Worship hall | Haiden | The building where visitors offer prayers to the deities |
| Main sanctuary | Honden | The building where the deities are enshrined |
How to Pray and Make Your Kanai-ishi Amulet
The Kanai-ishi ritual begins with receiving the set at the shrine office, followed by worship, purifying the stone, and completing the wish slip.
Proceed calmly while reading the instructions you receive and the signs on site.
If you want to check each step carefully, allow about 30 minutes from receiving your set at the office to placing your wish slip in its designated place.
Receive Your Kanai-ishi Set at the Shrine Office
If you would like to make a wish with a Kanai-ishi, first receive a set at the shrine office.
Checking how to use the stone, amulet pouch, and wish slip will help you follow the rest of the visit without confusion.
If the Japanese instructions are difficult to understand, point to the relevant step and ask, or use a translation app to check the meaning.
Before leaving, prepare an offline translation feature and the necessary language data in case mobile reception is unavailable.
Purify Yourself, Then Pray at the Worship Hall
After cleansing your hands and mouth at the purification pavilion, proceed to the worship hall to pray to the deities.
The idea is to first greet the deity before heading to the wishing stone.
If someone ahead of you is praying, wait quietly and offer your prayers from the indicated place.
Purify the Kanai-ishi and Touch It to the Negai-ishi
Take the Kanai-ishi from the set and purify it in the sacred water flowing beside the Negai-ishi.
Touch the purified stone to the wishing stone and silently make your wish.
Organize your belongings before taking out the stone so that the amulet pouch and wish slip do not get wet.
Bring a small handkerchief or towel to dry the wet stone and your hands.
Write Your Wish Slip and Place It in the Amulet Pouch
Write your wish, address, and name on the wish slip.
The wish slip has two copies; place one copy in the wish-slip collection box in the worship hall and the other in the amulet pouch together with your Kanai-ishi.
Check which slip to leave at the shrine and which to take home before closing the pouch.
If you are worried about writing in Japanese, ask the shrine office beforehand whether you may use Roman letters or another writing system.
Keep your completed amulet somewhere it will not get lost among your belongings, and take it home as a reminder of your wish after the trip.
Tamatsukuriyu Shrine Etiquette for First-Time Visitors
Tamatsukuriyu Shrine is both a sightseeing destination and a place where people offer prayers.
Knowing the customs and considering other worshipers will help you pray peacefully too.
Torii Gates, Purification, and the Two Bows, Two Claps, One Bow Ritual
In general, bow lightly before passing through the torii gate and walk along the approach without blocking others.
When using a ladle for purification, cleanse both hands, then rinse your mouth with water poured into your palm; do not put your mouth directly on the ladle.
In front of the worship hall, quietly place your saisen monetary offering before praying.
The prayer ritual at Tamatsukuriyu Shrine is 2 bows, 2 claps, and 1 bow.
Bow deeply twice, clap twice and pray, then bow once more; follow any different instructions provided on site.
Check Signs and Your Surroundings Before Taking Photos
Check posted notices and shrine guidance to see where photography is allowed, and ask before taking photos if you are unsure.
Avoid moving your camera close to people praying or photographing wish slips written by others.
Here are some considerations for different situations during your visit.
| Situation | What to Do | What to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Walking along the approach | Leave enough room for people to pass | Standing across the path as a group |
| In front of the wishing stone | Take turns offering prayers | Occupying the spot for a long photo session |
| Writing a wish slip | Check your own slip | Looking at what others have written |
| Taking photos | Check notices and your surroundings | Photographing people praying without permission |
How to Get to Tamatsukuriyu Shrine and Shrine Office Hours
If traveling by train, planning how to continue from JR Tamatsukuri Onsen Station will make reaching the shrine easier.
Tamatsukuriyu Shrine is at the far end of the Tamatsukuri Onsen resort, upstream along the Tamayu River.
Take a Taxi or Bus from JR Tamatsukuri Onsen Station to the Hot Spring Town
JR Tamatsukuri Onsen Station and the hot spring town are in separate locations, and a taxi is one option for reaching the shrine from the station.
The taxi journey from JR Tamatsukuri Onsen Station to Tamatsukuriyu Shrine takes about 5 minutes.
By public bus, board an Ichibata Bus bound for Tamatsukuri Onsen at the Tamatsukuri Onsen Eki Iriguchi bus stop near the station, ride about 7 minutes to the final stop, Tamatsukuri Onsen, then walk about 3 minutes.
From Matsue Station, another option is the Ichibata Bus Tamatsukuri Line to Tamatsukuri Onsen.
By car, allow about 10 minutes from Matsue Tamatsukuri IC on the San'in Expressway.
Check the shrine and your arrival stop on a map, along with transport schedules and the boarding point for your return journey.
If you have large bags, ask your accommodation in advance whether you can leave them there so that you can handle the stone and wish slip more easily.
Parking, Restrooms, and Other Shrine Facilities
Tamatsukuriyu Shrine has free parking for 20 cars, and bicycles may be parked free in available spaces.
The restrooms have Western-style toilets, and a wheelchair-accessible toilet is also provided.
On rainy days, the stones and ground can become wet, so shoes with good grip are a sensible choice.
Check Shrine Office Hours If You Want a Kanai-ishi
The hours for worshiping on the grounds differ from those for receiving a Kanai-ishi at the shrine office.
There is no time restriction on worshiping on the grounds, but the office counter is open from 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, and from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
The counter closes for a midday break on weekdays, so check its hours before leaving if you plan to include the Kanai-ishi ritual in your itinerary.
Check the following before your visit.
- The shrine office's opening hours that day
- The offering for a Kanai-ishi and how to receive one
- Return transportation times and boarding locations
For inquiries, contact Tamatsukuriyu Shrine at 0852-62-0006.
Allow plenty of time before your scheduled meal at your accommodation or your return train so that you do not need to rush when writing your wish slip.
Things to Do Near Tamatsukuriyu Shrine: Walk Around Tamatsukuri Onsen
The scenery along the Tamayu River and nearby places of worship also offer a close look at Tamatsukuri Onsen's culture.
View the Shrine and River from Miyabashi, the Love-Wish Bridge
Miyabashi, a bridge with red railings over the Tamayu River in front of the shrine, is also affectionately known as Koi Kanai-bashi, the Love-Wish Bridge.
A local tradition says that taking a commemorative photo on Miyabashi with the shrine's torii gate in the frame will make your romantic wish come true.
Noticing the positions of the bridge and torii gate as you walk lets you enjoy the scenery connecting the riverside hot spring town to the shrine.
In spring, about 400 Somei Yoshino cherry trees line roughly 2 km of both riverbanks, usually blooming at their best from late March to early April.
When taking photos, watch the flow of pedestrians and choose a spot that does not block the bridge or shrine entrance.
Experience Local Faith at Seigan-ji Temple's Oshiroi Jizō
Seigan-ji Temple, about a 2-minute walk south of Tamatsukuriyu Shrine, enshrines Oshiroi Jizō (Face-Powder Jizō), a statue of a Buddhist guardian.
This place preserves a tradition of praying for beautiful skin and offers insight into local beliefs connected to the hot springs.
One known prayer method is to receive a prayer slip on the grounds, use colored pencils to color the part of the skin you want to improve, dedicate the slip, and then pray to Jizō.
When stopping by, check the temple's guidance and follow the customs practiced there.
Hot Spring Water at Yuyakushi Square and Footbaths Along the Tamayu River
At Yuyakushi Square in the hot spring town, you can collect and take home Tamatsukuri Onsen water, known for its association with beautiful skin.
If you do not have a container, empty spray bottles are available for 200 yen.
Free footbaths along the Tamayu River offer a place to rest tired feet, though they may be unavailable when the river level is high or under other conditions.
If you plan to use a footbath, carrying a small towel to dry your feet is useful.
Learn About Jewel-Making at the Izumo Tamatsukuri Museum
The Matsue Municipal Izumo Tamatsukuri Museum, within walking distance of the hot spring town, introduces the history of jewel-making.
Remains of about 30 jewel-making workshops have been found at the Izumo Tamatsukuri site, showing that large-scale production took place from the early Kofun period through the Heian period.
The museum displays curved magatama beads, tube-shaped beads, and other jewels made from jasper, agate, and quartz, alongside various artifacts excavated from the site.
The surrounding area has been developed as Izumo Tamatsukuri Historic Site Park, with facilities preserving workshop remains and reconstructed buildings.
Opening hours are 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m.; the museum is closed on Mondays, the day after public holidays, and December 28–January 4.
Admission is 300 yen per person, or 250 yen each for groups of 10 or more; high school students and younger enter free.
Plan Your Tamatsukuriyu Shrine Visit
At Tamatsukuriyu Shrine, you can worship the deities of jewel-making and hot springs and experience making a wish with the Negai-ishi and Kanai-ishi.
Knowing the sequence of receiving a Kanai-ishi, purifying it, praying, and taking it home with your wish slip will help you feel comfortable even on your first visit.
Check shrine office hours and transportation, take your time to pray, and make this part of your trip a chance to reflect on your own wishes.
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