Hakozaki Shrine, Shinto shrine in Hakozaki district, Fukuoka, Japan
Hakozaki Shrine is a Hachiman shrine in Hakozaki, Fukuoka. Its main hall, rebuilt in 1546 by Ōuchi Yoshitaka, is a cypress-bark-roofed structure in the nagare-zukuri style, with a worship hall in gabled style. The tower gate, built in 1594 by Kobayakawa Takakage, bears a plaque reading 'Surrender of the enemy nation'. A long approach runs about 850 meters from the first torii to the main hall.
The sanctuary was founded in 923 and served for centuries as a spiritual center for the region. The Mongol invasion of 1274 destroyed much of the compound, prompting extensive rebuilding that shaped its current form.
The character 筥 in the shrine's name means a cylindrical container, not the 箱 used for the district and station. The name comes from the Hakomatsu pine by the tower gate: Empress Jingū is said to have buried the placenta of Emperor Ōjin in a box there and planted the tree as a marker.
Visitors can walk through the grounds daily and view the buildings from outside, though certain areas remain open only during ceremonies. The Tamaseseri Festival on January 3 and the Hojoya Festival from September 12 to 18 draw large crowds and offer insights into local customs.
The shrine's name comes from this pine: Empress Jingū is said to have placed Emperor Ōjin's afterbirth in a box (hako) and buried it here, planting the tree as a marker. The vermilion fence around it stands to the right of the tower gate.
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