Osakabe Shrine, Shinto shrine in Japan

Osakabe Shrine is a small Shinto shrine located in the heart of Himeji, sitting at a busy corner on a shopping street. It has a simple structure with a small torii gate and traditional features, but takes up little space and can easily be overlooked at first glance.

The shrine traces its origin to Prince Osakabe, a son of Emperor Konin, and his daughter Princess Tomi, honoured as guardian deities on Mount Hime by the provincial governor's family, the Kakuno. Around 1580 Toyotomi Hideyoshi's rebuilding of Himeji Castle moved it outside the walls; it was later returned inside by Ikeda Terumasa, moved out again under the Matsudaira in 1639, and rebuilt within the castle under the Sakakibara in 1649. In 1741 a branch was enshrined at Chogen-ji, and in the late Taisho era that deity became independent as Osakabe Shrine.

Osakabe Shrine is dedicated to a guardian deity of Himeji Castle and holds meaning for the local community. During the summer Yukata Festival in June, visitors can see how residents gather in traditional cotton kimono to share music, dancing, and customs that connect them to the area's history.

The shrine is about a ten-minute walk from Himeji Station and is easily reached by train or car. Visitors should note that the area becomes very busy during the Yukata Festival in June, when streets can be crowded with people and vehicles.

The shrine exists in two locations at once: a small hall stands on the top floor of Himeji Castle's keep, and another sits within the grounds of the射楯兵主神社, Himeji's main shrine. When Matsudaira Naonori was transferred from Himeji to Maebashi, the shrine was carried along and enshrined at Maebashi Tōshō-gū, where the Maebashi side regards it as the original rather than a branch.