Mihara Goshuin Tour - Stroll around the castle town of Mihara -

Goshuin is a stamp issued as proof of having offered sutras to temples and shrines. Offering sutras to temples and shrines to pray for peace in this life, good fortune in the next life, or as a memorial service, is said to have begun around 1,000 years ago during the Heian period, when not only monks but also aristocrats and samurai began to offer sutras. Nowadays, goshuin are given as proof of visiting a temple. The town originated as the castle town of Mihara Castle, nicknamed "Floating Castle" because it appears to float on the sea at high tide. Walking through the castle town of Mihara, where many temples and shrines gathered by the wise general Kobayakawa Takakage, who built Mihara Castle, are still scattered, you can see that the castle town had excellent defenses, such as the difficult-to-attack alleys and hook-shaped alleys, and the steps that prevented flooding. As urbanization progressed, the castle disappeared, but the beautiful stone walls of the main tower remain to this day. Please enjoy visiting the Mihara Goshuin stamps while feeling the vestiges of the castle town.