With the Lunar New Year last Sunday, we have officially ushered in the Year of the Water Rabbit! In celebration, we take a closer look into some rabbit-themed Japan destinations for you to hop over to this year!
Okazaki Shrine, Kyoto
The approach to Okazaki Shrine with the two 'koma-usagi' rabbit statues, guarding the entrance © bassetts.bouken on Instagram
The first on our list is Okazaki Shrine in East Kyoto, just 10-minutes’ walk from the more famous Heian Shrine. It is one of Kyoto’s smaller shrines, but what is lacking in size is made up for in cuteness with numerous bunny statues and motifs dotted around the grounds, earning the shrine its nickname, 'Usagi-jinja' or rabbit shrine.
One of the many rabbit statues at Okazaki Shrine © bassetts.bouken on Instagram
Instead of the usual 'koma-inu' lion-dog statues, a pair of 'koma-usagi' rabbits stands at the entrance to the shrine. Be sure to pet their heads for that extra bit of luck! Even the lanterns have bunny designs painted on them, and the 'omamori' charms and 'omikuji' fortunes sold at the shrine follow suit in all sorts of fluffy-tailed shapes and sizes.
Lanterns adorned with rabbit motifs © bassetts.bouken on Instagram
But why so many rabbits, you ask? Built in 794, Okazaki Shrine is dedicated to the 'kami' or Japanese Shinto deities, 'Susanoo-no-mikoto' and 'Kushinadahime-no-mikoto' and their 8 children. With the symbol of the rabbit, the shrine became associated with prosperity and fertility, with many people visiting to offer up prayers of good marriage, easy childbirth and healthy families.
The most distinct of these adorable statues is the 'Kosazuke Usagi' which can be found above the shrine’s purification basin. Unlike the others, it is black in colour and sits on its hind legs, looking at the moon and baring its belly to be rubbed and splashed with water for anyone wishing for a happy pregnancy!
The 'Kosazuke Usagi' statue © bassetts.bouken on Instagram
The Grand Shrine of Izumo Taisha, Shimane
Izumo in Shimane prefecture is home to one of Japan’s most important landmarks, The Grand Shrine of Izumo Taisha. Although there are no known records of when Izumo Taisha was built, it is considered the country’s oldest Shinto shrine.
The statues of two praying rabbits at Izumo Taisha Shrine © Shimane Prefectural Tourism
While the most widely-recognised feature of Izumo Taisha is the giant 'shimenawa' straw rope – Japan’s largest! – that is garlanded on the front of the 'Kagura (dance) Hall', what has captured the nation’s hearts the most are the adorable clusters of rabbit statues occupying the grounds.
A rabbit reading and another laughing, just two of the many different personalities at Izumo Taisha © Shimane Prefectural Tourism
Rabbits have a particular connection to 'Okuninushi', the Japanese deity of marriage who is known as the creator of Japan and enshrined at Izumo Taisha. Japan’s oldest surviving chronicle, the 'Kojiki', speaks to this connection through a famous tale called ‘The White Hare of Inaba’ where Okuninushi helps a white rabbit after it had been injured by sharks.
Rabbit-lovers can therefore delight in all the endearing variations of rabbit statues that decorate the complex of this ancient shrine!
Lake Kawaguchi Mount Tenjo Park (a.k.a. Mount Kachi-Kachi), Yamanashi
The statue of the Kachi-Kachi Yama rabbit in front of Mount Fuji © 2018 Mt. FUJI PANORAMIC ROPEWAY
Those who ride up the Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway for the sole purpose of admiring scenic views of the adjacent Mount Fuji may be somewhat baffled to find a series of Looney-Toon-esque statues of rabbits and 'tanuki' (Japanese racoon dog) peppering Lake Kawaguchi Mount Tenjo Park’s observation deck!
The cable car up to the Mount Tenjo observation deck © 2018 Mt. FUJI PANORAMIC ROPEWAY
Although they appear quite cuddly, these characters are actually from a…rather dark folktale that was revived by the famous Japanese author, Osamu Dazai.
A scene from the 'Kachi-Kachi Yama' folktale where the rabbit tricks the tanuki into sailing on a boat made out of mud © 2018 Mt. FUJI PANORAMIC ROPEWAY
It tells the story of a nefarious tanuki who tricks a man into eating his own wife and a rabbit that avenges the couple through tricks and torture. This includes setting the tanuki’s kindling backpack on fire and convincing it to sail on a boat made out of mud!
The rabbit setting the tanuki's kindling on fire © 2018 Mt. FUJI PANORAMIC ROPEWAY
The name ‘Mount Kachi-Kachi’ comes from the Japanese onomatopoeia for the sound of brushwood in fire. With his kindling set alight, the tanuki, unbeknownst, asks about the crackling sounds that can suddenly be heard, to which the rabbit assures him that it is merely the usual noises made by ‘Mount Kachi-Kachi’…but the statues are cute, right?!
A swing with a view at the top of Lake Kawaguchi Mount Tenjo Park © 2018 Mt. FUJI PANORAMIC ROPEWAY
And with a café that also sells tanuki and rabbit-inspired 'dango' sweet treats and a charming shrine dedicated to the rabbit, travellers can enjoy a lot more than the grand, panoramic views of Mount Fuji at Lake Kawaguchi Mount Tenjo Park thanks to the story!
Nikko Futarasan Shrine in Tochigi prefecture ©Nikko City Tourism Association
A newcomer to the list of rabbit-related Japan destinations is the Nikko Futarasan Shrine in Tochigi prefecture, established in the 8th century in dedication to one of Nikko’s mountain gods, Mount Nantai. Not only is it the spiritual heart of the area, it also holds national significance; housing not one, but two national treasure-designated swords of Japan!
The shrine's golden rabbit statue ©Nikko City Tourism Association
Last November saw the unveiling of the shrine’s newest symbol, a lucky golden rabbit statue which stands in front of the main shrine. It was created to commemorate the 1240th anniversary of the Buddhist monk, Shodo Shonin, who founded the shrine in 782 and brought Buddhism to the Nikko region.
A closer view of the golden rabbit statue, holding a lapis lazuli gemstone orb ©Nikko City Tourism Association
Holding an orb made out of the deep-blue gemstone, lapis lazuli, it is the community’s hope that the golden rabbit statue will invite good fortune and success to the sacred mountain and its visitors. An adorable but also auspicious addition to a place seeped in rich history and nature!
Tsuki-usagi no Sato, Ishikawa
Imagine Nara, but instead of deer, picture rabbits! Located in Nagai Town in Kaga City, Ishikawa, the 'Tsuki-usagi no Sato' (literally ‘Moon Rabbit Village’) houses more 50 free-roaming rabbits that can pet and feed using the rabbit-approved foods provided in the site’s vending machines! At only 300JPY (approx. 1.80GBP) entry, it is a great place to stop-over for animal-lovers and families.
The park was born from the local legend of a ‘moon rabbit’ who, after being saved by one of the townspeople, saves the village in turn from floods caused by torrential rains. As with the other destinations on our list, the rabbit is therefore seen by the people as symbols of good luck.
The park also has a rabbit shrine and a museum that exhibits sculptures of animals and lacquerware from around Ishikawa. Workshops and experiences where visitors can make their own wood potpourri bags and traditional Japanese 'manju' sweets are also available.
Bakery USAGIZA Lepus, Tokyo
What would Japan be if not for their trend of adorable, animal-shaped confections? The rabbit is, of course, no exception to this!
Bunny-shaped buns at Bakery USAGIZA Lepus, Tokyo © Bakery USAGIZA Lepus
Located in the Shin-Koenji neighbourhood of Tokyo’s Suginami Ward is the Bakery USAGIZA Lepus, created by a former sous-chef to the late French culinary giant, Joël Robuchon. This bakery has been crafting rabbit-inspired treats for almost 6 years now but if there was ever a time to get your hands on these too-cute-to-eat baked goods, it would be this year!
Running away with the show are, without a doubt, their signature bunny-shaped financiers (French almond cakes). Made using quality ingredients such as ‘Nasuno Goyou Ran’ eggs, Tanegashima cane sugar and Hokkaido butter, the cakes marry the richness of a French madeleine with classic Japanese flavours, like black tea and yuzu!
Bakery USAGIZA Lepus's most popular treat, the rabbit-shaped financiers © Bakery USAGIZA Lepus
What’s more; the bakery has a connection to the writer and artist of the Japanese 'manga' comic, ‘Made in Abyss’, Akihito Tsukushi. One of the characters in the manga resembles a rabbit and as a lovely result, there are regular collaborations between the bakery and 'mangaka' for both rabbit-lovers and manga-fans to enjoy!
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