Votive ship Ema group

Votive ship Ema group

The ship owners dedicated these votive paintings of ships to pray for a safe journey of ships sailing from Osaka to Hokkaido.
There are two shrines near the Fukura Port: Sarutahiko Shrine and Kotohira Shrine on Hiyoriyama. The wall of the worship hall is filled with dedicatory votive paintings that have been donated.
Usually, they are not open to the public. Sarutahiko Shrine carries 31 votive paintings that were dedicated between 1830 and 1909, while Kotohira Shrine carries 29 votive paintings dedicated between 1859 and the late 1800s / early 1900s.
Rare dedicated paintings include shipwrecking and sea creatures like squids, octopuses, crabs, and shrimps. They are valuable materials that show the culture of ships sailing from Osaka to Hokkaido.
Owners of the ships sailing from Osaka to Hokkaido also donated to the Kotohira Shrine the following: lanterns, shrine worship’s decorative dragon sculptures, and architraves.
The dedicatory votive paintings of both shrines were designated to be the town’s designated cultural property in 1978.