Washibara Hachimangū, Shinto shrine in Tsuwano, Japan
Washibara Hachimangu is a Shinto shrine in Tsuwano with traditional buildings positioned along the Tsuwano river where the castle hill meets the water. The grounds include a preserved horse archery track and a second shrine building with a torii gate that was relocated here during the Edo period.
The shrine was built by the Yoshimi clan in the 14th century and received a second shrine building from the Kamei family during the Edo period. This development shows how the sanctuary was maintained and expanded by successive ruling families over time.
The shrine grounds contain Japan's only remaining dedicated horse archery track, which hosts the annual Tsuwano Yabusame Festival each April. Visitors can observe how this space continues to serve traditional mounted archery competitions today.
The grounds are about 40 minutes on foot from Tsuwano station, though bicycle rentals and local taxis offer faster options. It helps to decide your transport in advance, as the area is somewhat remote with limited walking infrastructure in places.
The main shrine building stands at an unusual diagonal angle to the archery track, a positioning detail that remains unexplained even among local residents. This peculiar orientation is not seen in other similar shrines in the area.
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