Founded in 887 to pray for Emperor Uda's recovery from illness, this small shrine sits along Kyoto's Philosopher's Path but remains largely unknown compared to the crowded nearby temples of Nanzen-ji and Ginkaku-ji.

Beyond the mice, the shrine features an unusual trio of animal guardians: a monkey, a black kite, and the sacred mice. This whimsical mix is scattered throughout the grounds alongside zodiac figures and even a Mickey Mouse statue.

A mouse saved a god's life in Japanese mythology, so this shrine replaced the traditional lion-dog guardians with stone mice instead. Out of 80,000 shrines in Japan, Ōtoyo Jinja is the only one with this unique arrangement.

The shrine's two guardian mice hold symbolic objects: one clutches a sake bottle representing fertility and longevity, while the other carries a scroll symbolizing academic achievement. Visitors leave fresh camellias behind their ears as offerings.