u/CloverSacredJapan

I photographed these unusual stone guardians at Tobe Sugiyama Shrine in Yokohama.

Most Shinto shrines are guarded by komainu, but this shrine has a male and female pair of komanezumi—guardian mice. Their stone bases can be rotated as part of a local prayer custom.

The shrine is dedicated to Ōnamuchi no Mikoto, also known as Ōkuninushi, a deity associated with mice in Japanese tradition.

According to the shrine’s history, it was founded in 652 and is regarded as the oldest shrine in Yokohama’s historic urban area.

I especially liked the contrast between the playful-looking mice, the vivid vermilion shrine building, and the old sacred tree beside them.

Have you encountered any other Japanese shrines with unusual guardian animals?