Nara City Tourism Association

An image of the blue-faced deity Shoumen Kongo is enshrined here as part of traditional folkloric Koushin beliefs. Image of this Koushin deity and his three monkeys can be seen throughout Nara-machi as talismans to ward off evil. Because they are thought to take a person's misfortune, the monkeys are known as "migawari-saru;" literally, "Substitue Monkeys" who take one's place. It is also believed that a wish written on the monkey's back will come true, earning them the additional nickname, "Wish Monkeys."