Ōsaki Hachimangū, Shinto shrine in Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan
Ōsaki Hachimangū is a Shinto shrine in Aoba-ku, Sendai, designated as a National Treasure of Japan. The sanctuary stands on a forested hill and can be reached via a long stone staircase that passes through tall cedar trees.
Date Masamune commissioned the construction between 1604 and 1607 after choosing Sendai as the seat of his clan. Craftsmen from Kyoto brought techniques usually reserved for imperial buildings.
The name refers to Hachiman, a deity associated with warriors and protection, worshipped across Japan. Visitors today see elaborate carvings and gold ornamentation that make the building an example of Momoyama style.
City buses from Sendai Station run regularly in about 20 minutes to the shrine. The stone staircase can become slippery when wet, so sturdy footwear is advisable.
The connecting hall between sanctuary and worship area uses a technique called Ishi-no-ma-zukuri, rarely found outside major temples and shrines. Metal fittings and decorative motifs mirror influences from the Toyokuni shrine in Kyoto.
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