Musashino-hachimangū, Shinto shrine in Japan
Musashino-hachimangu is a Shinto shrine in Musashino city, surrounded by tall zelkova and camphor trees that create a forested feeling within the urban area. The grounds contain a main hall and several smaller shrines dedicated to different deities associated with protection, agriculture, and health.
The shrine was founded around the year 789 when a warrior named Sakagami Tamuramaro brought a sacred spirit to this location. After a major fire in the surrounding area, it became a community center where residents gathered and revered it as their guardian shrine.
The shrine is dedicated to Ojin, a god associated with warfare and focus, and visitors come to seek blessings for success in activities requiring concentration or strength. The ritual of hand and mouth cleansing at the water basin before prayer is a tradition visitors experience directly upon arrival.
The shrine is about a ten-minute walk from Kichijoji Station, which is served by several train lines, and buses also stop nearby. Since there is no parking lot at the site, most visitors arrive on foot or use nearby parking areas, making the walk through shops and cafes a pleasant part of the visit.
The water basin for purification here uses a sensor to dispense water without touching it, blending an ancient tradition with modern hygiene. Many visitors purchase a goshuin, a personal prayer paper, after visiting as a special keepsake of their time at the shrine.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
