This shrine in Japan invites you to hit and kick its god of poverty statue for good luck [Photos]

A unique shrine in Japan invites visitors to physically confront its god of poverty statue in a bid for good luck. The shrine, nestled in the town of Chino within Nagano Prefecture, diverges from the traditional custom of offering coins, bowing, and praying. Instead, pilgrims are instructed to strike and kick the statue of the deity, known as Binbogami, for luck.

Located within Hakko Park, a local products and miso-making museum, the shrine can only be found by exploring the area and seeking out the signs directing you to the passageway leading to Binbogami Shrine. Despite its ominous reputation, the shrine emanates an air of mystery, cloaked in shadow even on a bright day.

Binbogami, depicted as a one-horned creature with a skeletal frame and coin-shaped eyes, has long been a fixture in Japanese folklore and legends, dating back to the 13th century. These entities are believed to bring about financial loss, unhappiness, and misfortune, which is why traditional methods exist to deter their presence.

At Binbogami Shrine, visitors are expected to pay their respects by placing a 100-yen coin in the collection pot, a symbolic gesture of their commitment to the ritual. Following this, they are equipped with a "poverty stick" and instructed to deliver three powerful whacks at the statue. After the strikes, the stick must be put down, and the final part of the ritual commences with kicking the statue three times.

This unconventional practice is outlined in the informative signs found within the shrine, which serves as a satellite branch of Nagano’s Suwa Shrine, tracing its origins to the 7th century. The signs also suggest concluding the ritual by throwing beans at the statue, a tradition that bears resemblance to the annual Setsubun festival, where participants throw beans to ward off demons and misfortune.

For added efficacy, visitors are advised to vocalize phrases such as "Binbogami, begone!" or "Damn you!" during their final kicks.