Sarumaru Shrine

Located near the Zendōji Pass, on the border between Honmachi and Sotsukamachi in Ōtsu City, this shrine enshrines Sarumaru Daihō. Although Sarumaru-daiyu is known as one of the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets, a poem attributed to him appears in the *Kokin Wakashū* under “Author Unknown”: “When I hear the cry of a deer as it parts the autumn leaves in the deep mountains, I realize how sorrowful autumn is.” According to his biography, “Sumiyoshi Sarumaru-daiyu traveled upstream along the Tagami River in Kurita District, Ōmi Province; passing through the neighboring village of Odawara, he ascended westward along a mountain pass at the northern foot of Mount Sarumaru. There, he is said to have admired the exquisite scenery—marked by strange rocks— and marveled at the exquisite scenery, so people call this rock ‘Sarumaru-daiyu’s Seating Stone.’ “In the past, boundary disputes frequently arose between Ōishi-Sotsu and Zendō-ji, so the shrine hall was relocated to its current site,” the biography states. This deity is renowned for its miraculous powers in curing growths such as tumors, attracting numerous worshippers from various regions, including the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe area.
A monthly festival is held on the 13th of every month, and grand festivals are held in spring (April 13) and fall (September 13). Additionally, on June 13 and December 13, the “Fire-Burning Ritual” takes place, drawing crowds of worshippers and spectators. The shrine grounds are a hidden gem for maple leaves. The leaves gradually change color starting in November, offering a spectacular display of autumn foliage that perfectly captures the spirit of the poem: “When I hear the cry of a deer wading through the autumn leaves in the deep mountains, that is when autumn feels most poignant.”