Moles at Shimotsuke Hoshimiya Shrine - 2024/11/17, 2025/11/16 -

Introduction

This is the story of my visit to "Shimotsuke Hoshimiya Shrine," where a very rare albino Japanese mole was discovered.
The shrine has a taxidermy specimen of the albino Japanese mole on display, and I really wanted to see it with my own eyes.
Since the public viewing dates are not fixed, I recommend checking in advance before you go.

This article covers content spanning two years.
There are parts in the text where the year changes.

The photos of the Japanese mole and its replica appearing in this article were taken and posted with permission from Hoshimiya Shrine.
Please be sure to check with the shrine when taking photographs.

This article contains images and descriptions of taxidermy.

Photographs of molehills and tunnels were taken from the path, with consideration for nature.

What is Shimotsuke Hoshimiya Shrine?

"Shimotsuke Hoshimiya Shrine" is a historic shrine said to have been founded in 807 AD to enshrine the pioneer guardian deities Iwasaku-no-kami and Nesaku-no-kami.
The nearest station is Ishibashi Station on the JR Tohoku Main Line (Utsunomiya Line).

Deities: Iwasaku-no-kami, Nesaku-no-kami, Futsunushi-no-kami

At Shimotsuke Hoshimiya Shrine, the original goshuin (shrine seal) featuring the golden mole "Kogane-kun" is very cute, and since the designs change seasonally, it makes you want to collect them.
You can also receive a very rare mole amulet.
If you are interested, please check the official website.

The lucky mole amulet makes a "pew" sound when you press it.

- 2024/11/17 -

On the way to Shimotsuke Hoshimiya Shrine on foot, there is a farm road.
Near a certain house, there were several holes that appeared to have been made by a mole.

Between the farm road and the field, there was the carcass of what appeared to be a vole.
At the time, I felt a resistance to seeing a dead body, and I felt it was something I should avoid.
However, after reading "Specimen Fool" and "Three Generations of Zoologists," I began to think that there are "clues to understanding nature" there.
Therefore, I now think it might have been good to have kept it as a photographic record.

This image shows a tunnel that was on the path next to the main shrine building.

There were many molehills and holes in the shrine grounds, and it seemed that many Japanese moles were living there.
The area around the shrine is surrounded by a coppice forest, but perhaps Japanese moles can live even in places with many tree roots.

First, here is a replica that recreates the albino Japanese mole as it was when it was discovered.

The replica was created by T&T Co., Ltd.. They are a company that produces models for various museums, and they also have a track record of creating enlarged models of Wolffia globosa for the National Museum of Nature and Science's special exhibition, 'Plants: Our Partners Supporting the Earth'.

The level of detail is amazing!
It looks like it could start scurrying around at any moment.
The whiskers around its face have also been recreated.
Perhaps because it is a replica of a deceased individual, the tip of its nose is earth-colored and lacks any sense of vitality.

Looking at its plump body, I think it must have been a very cute little thing when it was alive.

Meeting the albino Japanese mole

Finally, I am meeting the long-awaited Japanese mole.
It was none other than Dr. Shin-ichiro Kawada who investigated this Japanese mole.
Along with the taxidermy, an article about Dr. Kawada's investigation at the time was also on display.

It stated, 'This is the first time the National Museum of Nature and Science has conducted a DNA test on an albino mole.'
The skeleton was apparently donated to the National Museum of Nature and Science.

The fur is fluffy, but compared to the replica, the color of the taxidermy's fur looked like a paler cream color.
Specimens can change color over time or due to their storage environment, so that may be a factor.

The National Museum of Nature and Science specimen used for comparison is also quite light in color compared to the fur of a healthy Japanese mole.
Also, it has lost its velvet-like luster.
If I could have observed it when it was healthy, it must have had a very glossy yellow coat.

Judging from its habitat, it is considered to be a Japanese mole, and even when compared to various specimens on display at the National Museum of Nature and Science, its physique appeared similar to other Japanese mole specimens.

It is flattened overall, but this appears to be a study skin specimen. Study skin specimens are made by peeling off the skin, applying a preservative to the inside, and stuffing it with cotton.*1

Next, let's take a look at the tag attached to the specimen's leg.

Is this tag from the National Museum of Nature and Science?
Specimens managed by the National Museum of Nature and Science are assigned an original number in this 'NSMT-M' field for management.*2
It seems the tag design varies depending on the era.

Since this specimen is not under the museum's management, the number field is blank.

Organizing this tag with information from the Hoshinomiya Shrine official website, it was discovered on November 12, 2017, the day before the autumn annual festival.
According to the newspaper, the discoverer was the priest's wife, and the tag contains the priest's name.
The Eastern mole's sex is male.

If we could see the teeth of the skeletal specimen, we could tell if it is a young individual.
It is said that a mole's age can be determined by the degree of tooth wear.

According to newspaper information, only two or three albino moles have been discovered in 20 years, which shows that this is a very rare find.

In the 'Column: Moles on Golf Courses' of 'Moles: A Quest for the Unseen', an albino individual of the Japanese mole with a completely white coat is introduced.*3

Next, let's focus on the forelimbs.
When creating a study skin specimen, the torso is usually detached at the elbow and knee joints.
Therefore, the forelimbs, hindlimbs, and tail remain with the fur in the study skin specimen.

There are five claws on each forelimb.
They are beautifully sharp and long.
Some moles I see in videos have broken or injured claws, so I thought this individual had very beautiful claws.

According to the 'Mole Handbook', the palm length of an Eastern mole is 21–24 mm including the claws, the width is 17–18 mm, and the length excluding the claws is 17–18 mm.*4
Therefore, the claws account for 20–25% of the entire forelimb.

Considering they dig with such small forelimbs, I am impressed by the mole's incredible strength.

There were many traces of mole activity on the grounds of 'Shimotsuke Hoshinomiya Shrine'.
Below is a hole that appears to be a collapsed tunnel.
I took this photo near the stairs leading down to the Asunaro Ryujin Pillar behind the shrine grounds.

That concludes the story for 2024. Next, we move on to the story of 2025.

2025/11/16

I visited Shimotsuke Hoshimiya Shrine again to return the amulet I received the previous year.
The lucky mole amulet is so cute that I liked it so much I thought about taking it home again if I couldn't get a new one.
I was able to safely receive a new amulet this year as well.

The Eastern moles at Shimotsuke Hoshimiya Shrine seem to be doing well this year too.
When I visited for the first time in a year, there were traces of tunnels in the same place as last year.
However, the condition of the molehills was slightly different; they were not as clearly raised as the previous year, and were dry and crumbling.
It is interesting how the appearance changes depending on the season and timing, even in the same location.

The photo below shows the traces of the tunnel that remained on the path next to the main hall, just like last year.

It is said that moles sometimes reuse tunnels left behind by their previous owners.
Perhaps because the shrine environment is maintained by humans and there is little major construction work, there is a possibility that tunnels in the same location have been reused for a long time.

I remember reading about tunnel reuse in a book or somewhere, but I have forgotten the source...
If tunnel traces can be seen in the same location for 4 to 8 consecutive years, it could serve as evidence that the tunnels are being reused.

The large ginkgo tree in the middle of the shrine grounds was dyed a vibrant yellow.
The albino Eastern mole who has become a star must surely be digging holes under the gods as well.

~Bonus~

I basically try not to take photos within the grounds of shrines and temples.
There are two reasons for this.

One is that some buildings have a policy of "commercial photography and use are prohibited in principle," which is common at temples and famous landmarks.
It shouldn't be a problem for non-profit and personal use, but I am a little concerned about it.

The other reason, although it is a superstition... is that I am afraid of capturing something that shouldn't be captured 😱

Let sleeping gods and copyrights lie

However, recently, when I find a molehill on shrine grounds, I pray, "Please let me take a picture of the molehill! (Thank you for letting me take it!)" and then take the photo 🙏

Well, it has been a long story, but I actually visited Shimotsuke Hoshimiya Shrine twice in 2024, in October and November.
At that time, I took many photos of molehills and tunnel traces.
Yes, or at least I thought I did.

There are almost no photos of the shrine grounds.
All that remained were the photos I posted above.

…….

Haha, my iPhone must have been acting up.
I have been using it for three years now, after all.
Or perhaps I was mistaken in thinking I had taken the photos.
It has been over a year, after all.

Since there were no particular issues with the photos from my visit in November 2025, I decided to write this article.

However, it reminded me to be careful and observe proper manners when taking photos in public spaces.

Although there were not as many photos left as I had thought, I remember the weather, the atmosphere of the grounds, and the condition of the soil under my feet very well.
I realized that it is important not only to rely on photos but also to keep records in a notebook.
I hope to visit again in a different season and record the presence of the moles a little better next time.

<References>

*1 Shin-ichiro Kawada (2019). "Nice to Meet You, Mr. Mole". Shonen Shashin Shimbunsha Co., Ltd. P116
*3 Shin-ichiro Kawada (2010). "Moles: A Quest for the Invisible". Tokai University Press. P15
*4 Masahiro Iijima / Kimiyuki Tsuchiya (2015). "Mole Handbook". Bun-ichi Sogo Shuppan. P72-73

<Cited Literature>

*2 Shin-ichiro Kawada (2020). "Specimen Idiot". Bookman Co., Ltd. P174

Toyama Science Museum. "Vertebrate Specimens". September 02, 2024. https://www.tsm.toyama.toyama.jp/?tid=103353 (Accessed 2026-03-07)

<Reference Sites>