By ando 
Yaegaki Jinja, located in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, is known as a powerful spot for matchmaking and tying relationships (enmusubi), alongside Izumo Taisha. However, this is not merely a place for romantic success. It is said to be the very birthplace of marriage, where Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the hero of Japanese mythology, and his wife, Inatahime-no-Mikoto, are believed to have held Japan’s first formal wedding ceremony.
Basic Information
Location: 227 Sakusacho, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture
Main Kami Enshrined: Susanoo-no-Mikoto, Inatahime-no-Mikoto
Divine Blessings: Matchmaking (enmusubi), marital harmony, safe childbirth, warding off misfortune and inviting good fortune
The Yamata no Orochi Legend and the Origin of “Yaegaki”
The history of Yaegaki Jinja dates back to the famous legend of the Slaying of Yamata no Orochi. To save Inatahime, who was about to be sacrificed to the great serpent, Susanoo hid her in the Sakusame-no-Mori forest located here. At that time, he built an eightfold (yae, meaning many-layered) fence around a large cedar tree to protect her, which is the origin of the shrine’s name, “Yaegaki.”
After successfully defeating the great serpent, Susanoo expressed his joy at being united with Inatahime by composing this poem:
“Many clouds rise. An eightfold fence of Izumo. To shelter my wife, I build an eightfold fence. Oh, that eightfold fence.”
This is considered to be Japan’s oldest waka poem (a 31-syllable poem), and it is said that the name of the province “Izumo” also originated from this poem. This episode truly represents a source of Japanese culture.
The Mysterious “Kagami-no-Ike” and Love Fortunetelling
Behind the main hall (haiden), within Sakusame-no-Mori, which Lafcadio Hearn praised as a “mysterious forest,” lies Kagami-no-Ike (Mirror Pond). It is said that Inatahime used this pond as a mirror while she was hiding.
The “relationship fortune-telling” (en uranai) that can be experienced here is the biggest attraction, drawing worshipers from all over the country.
1. Receive a fortune-telling paper (washi) at the shrine office (shamusho).
2. Float the paper on the pond and gently place a 10-yen or 100-yen coin on it.
3. Time to sink: If it sinks quickly (within 15 minutes), your relationship will come soon; if it sinks slowly (over 30 minutes), it will come later.
4. Where it sinks: If it sinks near you, your partner is close by; if it floats far away before sinking, your partner is from a distant place.
Behind the Scenes / Mystery
This fortune-telling also has a particularly lucky superstition. It is said that if a newt (imori) living in the pond crosses the paper or climbs onto it while it is floating, you will be blessed with exceptionally good fortune in relationships. Newts are also considered messengers of Inatahime-no-Mikoto, and their appearance itself is believed to be very auspicious.
Does it regenerate even after dying? The Mystery of the “Meoto Tsubaki”
Throughout the shrine grounds, you can see “Meoto Tsubaki” (Married Couple Camellias), where two trees are connected at their base, appearing as one. There is a legend that two camellia branches planted by Inatahime sprouted and grew into a single tree.
Mysterious as it is, even if this camellia withers and dies, it is said that a similar “two-pronged camellia” will grow somewhere else on the shrine grounds. Currently, there are three such trees: Renri Tama Tsubaki, Otome Tsubaki, and Kodakara Tsubaki. They are beautiful and mysterious symbols, with a theory even suggesting they were the model for Shiseido’s logo.
Pilgrimage Information: As a Setting for Anime and TV Dramas
Yaegaki Jinja, with its mysterious atmosphere, has appeared in many media works.
Detective Conan: Yaegaki Jinja appears in episodes 255 and 256, “Matsue Tamatsukuri Renku 14-Ban Shobu,” when Conan and his friends visit Matsue. A scene depicting their fluctuating emotions during the Kagami-no-Ike fortune-telling makes this an unmissable pilgrimage site for fans.
NHK Serial TV Drama “Bakebake”: This morning drama, scheduled to air in 2025, features an episode where Setsu Koizumi, the model for the heroine, did a fortune-telling at Kagami-no-Ike in her youth. This will bring renewed attention to the shrine.
Yaegaki Jinja, where Japan’s oldest love story lives on. Why not reflect on your own relationships (en) amidst the tranquility of Kagami-no-Ike?
Related Links / References