Ominato Shrine
大湊神社

Ominato Shrine is located on Oshima, an uninhabited island off the coast of Fukui Prefecture. The island is covered in virgin forest and is made of rhyolite rock formed by a volcanic eruption around 13 million years ago. You reach the shrine by walking across a long red bridge from the mainland. The shrine was established around 650 AD and is dedicated to the guardian deities of navigation and maritime safety. Local fishermen and sailors have worshipped here for centuries.

There is also a well-known local urban legend about Oshima. Folklore dictates that visitors should only walk the trails around the island clockwise, as taking the counterclockwise route is said to bring a curse.