Oji Walking Guide — 5 Spots from Shrines to a Waterfall

There are 5 walking spots clustered around Oji Station, ranging from shrines to a park. All 5 are within walking distance of Oji Station, and none of them carry budget data — they are places for visiting and strolling, so you can complete the loop with almost no spending beyond transport. The lineup is two shrines, two temples and one park, and the area's appeal lies in tracing the origin of its own place name while touching greenery and the sound of water.

The suggested order is [Oji Shrine](/en/spot/74669ace-c462-4cff-bef9-cf2603f0f032) → [Kinrin-ji Temple](/en/spot/aa11ef91-3f7d-4c3e-a5cb-7ab13aa88bfc) → [Oji Inari Shrine](/en/spot/5d6e36fe-3b29-48cd-b122-9e064393a43b) → [Nanushi no Taki Park](/en/spot/f6490d02-e1cf-460e-b96f-c221b822dac8) → [Saifukuji Temple](/en/spot/767ec6e4-9af2-4a84-aa9c-fc48d72bb15c). Start at the shrine said to be the source of the district's name, break up the middle with the sound of a waterfall, and finish at a quiet temple.

Oji Shrine

[Oji Shrine](/en/spot/74669ace-c462-4cff-bef9-cf2603f0f032) is an old shrine also said to be the origin of the place name "Oji." Tradition holds that the name comes from enshrining the Wakamiya (Oji) of Kishu Kumano at this site. It sits within walking distance of Oji Station, and you can pay your respects wrapped in the greenery of the grounds. As a way of learning where the town's name came from, it makes a fitting start to the walk.

Kinrin-ji Temple

[Kinrin-ji Temple](/en/spot/aa11ef91-3f7d-4c3e-a5cb-7ab13aa88bfc) is a temple located near Oji Station. It has quiet grounds rooted in the neighborhood, with a calm atmosphere that makes it easy to drop by mid-route. It is a gentle temple that blends into the residential streets around it — a good place to catch your breath after the first shrine.

Oji Inari Shrine

[Oji Inari Shrine](/en/spot/5d6e36fe-3b29-48cd-b122-9e064393a43b) is an Inari shrine a few minutes' walk from Oji Station. Long regarded as the head shrine of the Inari shrines of the Kanto region, it hosts the "Fox Procession" rite on New Year's Eve, when people gather dressed as foxes. Deeply rooted in the area since the Edo period, it is where the storytelling side of Oji comes through most strongly.

Nanushi no Taki Park

[Nanushi no Taki Park](/en/spot/f6490d02-e1cf-460e-b96f-c221b822dac8) is a park within walking distance of Oji Station. A waterfall said to have sprung within the estate of a local village headman (nanushi) in the Edo period still flows here, and you can enjoy the sound of water while walking tree-lined paths. It is a small park where you can touch a natural scene inside the city. As the only spot of the 5 built around water, placing it mid-to-late in the route resets the mood.

Saifukuji Temple

[Saifukuji Temple](/en/spot/767ec6e4-9af2-4a84-aa9c-fc48d72bb15c) is a temple close to Oji Station. Tucked quietly into a corner of a residential district, its grounds keep just the right stillness for an unplanned stop mid-walk. It is a locally rooted temple where you can forget the noise of the city and take a slow breath — well suited to closing out the day.

One closing tip: All 5 spots are within walking distance of Oji Station and centre on visiting and strolling. Wear comfortable shoes and set aside extra time to walk the small paths of Nanushi no Taki Park slowly.