Attractions > Other Cities and Areas > Shrines Temples > Kamakura

About | Access | Hotels & Lodging | Hours & Fees

Tsurugaoka hachimangu in Kamakura Japan by sailko (CC BY 3.0)

 

About

Although the big Buddha across town gets his picture taken a lot, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is the most popular destination for tourists, mainly Japanese.  Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is the most important Shinto shrine in the city of Kamakura Japan. The shrine hosts many of Kamakura's festivals and has two museums on its grounds.  Founded in 1063 by Minamoto Yoriyoshi at a slightly different spot, the shrine was enlarged and moved to its current location in 1180 by Minamoto Yoritomo, the founder and first shogun of the Kamakura government.

The shrine is dedicated to the god "Hachiman", the patron god of the Minamoto family and Samurai in general. The deified spirits of the ancient Emperor Ojin, Princess Hime-gami and Empress Jingu are enshrined at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.  Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is now only Shinto shrine but for almost 700 years since its foundation until the "Shinto and Buddhism Separation Order" of 1868, its name was Tsurugaoka Hachimangu-ji (with a "ji" which means "temple") and it was also a Buddhist temple. The mixing of Buddhism and Shinto Kami (gods) worship in shrine-temple complexes like Tsurugaoka had been normal for centuries until the Meiji government decided, for political reasons, that this was to change.

During the New Year holidays (in Japanese: Oshougatsu お正月), Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is filled with over two million visitors being one of the country's most popular shrines for "Hatsu Mode" (year's first visit to a shrine). Then in mid April and mid September, horseback archery (yabusame) is performed along the main approach to the shrine.

 

Access

Closest Train Station: Kamakura

2 Chome-1-31 Yukinoshita
Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-8588 Japan

Tel: 467-22-0315

from Kamakura Station its about a 15-20 min. walk through the busy Komachi-dori shopping street. You can also reach it by walking along the Dankazura, a pedestrian path in the center of Wakamiya Oji Street that is lined with several hundred cherry trees.

Google Map

 

Hotels & Lodging

Recommended

View a full list of Hotels and Lodging in or nearby Tsurugaoka Hachimangu.

 

Hours & Fees

Hours: 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., October - March opens from 6:00 a.m. (last entry 30 min. before closing)

Closed: No closing days

Cost: The general grounds of Shrines and Temples are free but may charge a small fee (a couple/few hundred yen) for special gardens, exhibitions, artifact viewing, etc.

Information presented is based on the time it was created. There may be changes since publication. Please confirm information by visiting the Official Website before visiting.

 

Resources

Website: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Homepage