Omiya Hachiman-gu Shrine (Tokyo)

Japan / Tokio / Musashino / Tokyo
 forest, grove, shrine, shinto / shintoism, interesting place, natural monument, shinto shrine

According to the legend, Minamoto-no Yorioshi, a renowned Genji warrior, was leading a military expedition to the north of Japan in 1063, and during a brief stop at this place, he noticed a cloud resembling the Genji standard. This inspired him to build a shrine, and dedicate it to Hachiman - a marshal god and guardian of Genji.

Omiya Hachiman's forest is designated by Tokyo Metropolitan Government for preservation as a natural monument. The azaleas therein were first planted by order of Shiogun Iemitsu, and there are over 6,000 varieties of them now. The pair of giant ginkgo trees at the shrine are male (right) and female (left); the sacred ropes on them indicate that they are objects of worship. An antique fair is on the 4th Saturday and Sunday every month; a plant fair on May 5; and the annual festival is on September 15.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   35°40'56"N   139°38'28"E
This article was last modified 10 years ago