By ando 
Basic Information
Location: 4410 Kōchi, Kanocho, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture
Enshrined Kami: Amaterasu Omikami, Oyamatsumi no Mikoto, Uka no Mitama no Mikoto
Access: Approximately 20 minutes by bus from JR Hōki Station, alight at “Mogoya” stop, then a 15-minute walk. By car, approximately 40 minutes from Tottori City.
Features: 264 steep stone steps leading up to the shrine building.
The Mystery of the Name “Moke” and its Fortune Legend
Mouke Jinja is nestled in a quiet mountain valley in Tottori City. This unique name, pronounced “Moke,” sounds identical to the Japanese word for “profit” or “gain” (mōke). Because of this, it has recently attracted visitors from all over Japan as a “super power spot for financial luck and business prosperity.”
Originally, the jinja was known as “Myoken Daigongen” and was quietly revered as a local tutelary kami. However, its fate changed significantly in Genroku 5 (1692) when it was renamed “Myoken Mouke Gu.” The precise origin of why the kanji “茂宇気” was chosen for “Moke” remains a mystery to this day, though one theory suggests it evolved from “mike,” meaning “food” or “offerings.”
The 264 Stone Steps: A “Trial for Wealth”?
To visit this jinja, there is an unavoidable “trial”: the 264 steep stone steps that lead up to the main shrine building.
The moss-covered staircase winding through a dense cedar forest makes each step feel heavy, and by the time you reach the top, you’ll be breathless. However, it is believed that ascending these stairs by your own strength is a form of spiritual training to achieve great “mōke” (profit).
Along the way, there is a “happiness guestbook” where visitors can write their aspirations and a chozuya (hand-washing basin) to take a break. The serene atmosphere of the main shrine building, reached after such a strenuous climb, truly feels like a sacred space. Along with a sense of accomplishment, you’re sure to feel a mysterious cleansing of the heart.
Insider Tips and Visiting Advice
When visiting Mouke Jinja, it’s crucial not to forget where to receive your goshuin (pilgrimage stamp) and omamori (charm). There is actually no shrine office within the jinja grounds.
To obtain your goshuin or omamori, you need to travel approximately 2km from Mouke Jinja to the office of Jūbō Jinja (in Imadaki, Kanocho, Tottori City). This inconvenience of having to go a little further is embraced by dedicated visitors as part of “the process of gaining virtue.”
Also, access to the parking lot and shrine building can be difficult in winter due to snow, so visiting between spring and autumn is best. The annual festival on October 17th is particularly lively, a stark contrast to the usual quietude, and attracts many people.
If you’ve been feeling like your luck is stagnant or you want your business to succeed, why not visit this “kami of profit” nestled deep in the mountains of Tottori? Your own good fortune might be waiting at the top of those 264 steps.
Related Links / References
Mouke Jinja | Tottori Prefecture Shrine Association (Official Website)
Mouke Jinja | Tottori Tottori City Recommended Popular Sightseeing/Outing Spots – Yahoo! Travel
Tabi Salad PLUS | Asahi Broadcasting
501 Not Implemented
Mouke Jinja – Wikipedia
Tamapon Tsushin List / Tamapon Gift
Mouke Jinja | Tourist Spots | Tottori City Tourism Site [Official] – Recommended Sightseeing/Travel Information for Tottori City
Mouke Jinja – All Tottori Dot Com (Tottori, Kurayoshi, Yonago)
[Tottori Prefecture] Sure to bring good fortune! 10 Shrines Known as Power Spots – TripLovers