Tamukeyama Hachiman Shrine, Shinto shrine in Nara Park, Japan
Tamukeyama Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto sanctuary in Nara featuring traditional wooden buildings and gates set along the slope of Mount Wakakusa. The site sits close to Todai-ji temple and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage zone that encompasses this area.
Founded in 749 to protect the construction of Todai-ji temple, the shrine originally carried the name Todai-ji Hachiman-gu. It was renamed during the Meiji period and designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
The shrine honors Hachiman, a deity associated with protection and the sacred, through rituals that visitors can witness throughout the year. This spiritual practice reflects the deep connections local communities maintain with the sacred figures venerated here.
The shrine can be reached by following the path behind Todai-ji temple, with the main entrance located near the intersection toward Kasuga shrine. Visitors should expect unpaved trails and gentle slopes as they explore the grounds.
Every October, the shrine holds a special procession in which deities from the distant Usa shrine return to Nara for the occasion. This ritual event reveals an unexpected connection between this location and a sanctuary in another region.
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