Iga Hachiman-gū, Shinto shrine in Japan
Iga Hachiman-gū is a Shinto shrine in Iga-chō, Okazaki, built in the Ishi-no-ma-zukuri style, where the main worship hall and prayer hall are connected under a shared roof. The wooden buildings display traditional craftsmanship with painted decorations and warm colors that stand out in sunlight.
The shrine was established in the late 15th century by Matsudaira Chikatada, well before the rise of the Tokugawa family. The third Tokugawa Shogun, Iemitsu, enshrined his grandfather Ieyasu as Tosho Daigongen and made it one of the three major Toshogu shrines alongside Nikko and Kunozan.
The shrine is named Hachiman, associated with war and protection in Shinto tradition. Visitors observe simple daily rituals here, such as people offering coins, clapping their hands, and lighting incense in front of the main hall as part of their worship.
The shrine is easily reached from Nagoya by train and bus in about 40 minutes. It is open from morning to early afternoon with no official closure days, so visitors can come any day to explore the grounds at their own pace.
According to legend, a white deer appeared at Yahagi River during the Sekigahara battle, guiding Tokugawa Ieyasu safely back to Okazaki. It is believed the animal was a messenger of the deity worshiped here, and the shrine itself was said to shake during major battles.
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