Ueji Hachimangu, Shinto shrine in Japan
Ueji Hachimangu is a Shinto shrine in Okazaki featuring traditional wooden buildings with curved roofs and intricate carvings. The grounds include a pond with lotus flowers, stone bridges, and mature trees that create a well-maintained and peaceful setting.
The shrine was relocated in 1470 from Iga in Mie Prefecture by Matsudaira Chikatada, an ancestor of the Tokugawa family. The site gained further significance as the Tokugawa family used it as a place to seek protection before major battles and to venerate important figures.
The shrine is dedicated to Hachiman, the god of war, and draws visitors seeking protection and blessings. The atmosphere is shaped by traditional rituals: people cleanse their hands and mouth at a special basin before praying, and many purchase amulets to take home as blessings.
The grounds open early in the morning and remain accessible until early afternoon with no set closing days. Free parking for about 30 cars is available nearby, or the site is easily reached by public transportation from Higashi Okazaki Station.
From late June through late July, colorful lotus flowers bloom on the shrine's pond. These flowers float on the water creating a special visual display that draws visitors during the warm months.
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