Location:
Tomioka Hachiman Shrine is located in Koto City in Tokyo. It is the most significant and most famous Shrine in Koto Ward. The shrine is also known as Fukagawa Hachiman.
Koto City is one of the 23 special wards in Tokyo, and it has many small and big shrines. But Tomioka Hachiman Shrine is the most famous and biggest Shrine in Koto City as well as the biggest Hachiman shrine in Tokyo.
At the same time, Setagaya Hachiman Shrine is the second biggest Hachiman shrine, located in Setagaya City near the Gotokuji Temple, one of the famous Buddhist temple in Tokyo.
More interestingly, the Hachiman god is a mixed belief from both Shinto and Buddhism. There are around 2,500 Hachiman shrines in Japan.
The shrine is one of the famous tourist spots in Tokyo Metropolitan, where thousands of people visit every month.
As I mentioned above, there are many shrines in Koto City. But the most famous Shrine, Tomioka Hachiman Shrine, I am going to discuss below.
History:
The shrine was built in 1627 in honor of Ojin, the 15th legendary Emperor of Japan(270-310).
Hachiman was a local deity who used to follow Shintoism. He was from the Minamoto clan, the same as Emperor Ojin. Hachiman used to be the god of archery and war. He is also considered a divine protector of Japan.
However, his name also refers to the ‘gods of eight banners’ that indicates the birth of Emperor Ojin. Hachiman god is related to Emperor Ojin, and that is why the shrine was dedicated to Emperor Ojin. His symbolic messenger is a dove.
The shrine is not only related to spirituality but also associated with the Sumo. Sumo tournaments were first held at the shrine in the 17th century. It has a deep connection with traditional Sumo and religion.
Features:
Those who visit Tokyo try to see the shrine for their traditional religious and cultural experience, making it one of the most famous places in Koto City. So, anyone can guess it is a lovely shrine indeed. However, without visiting Tomioka Hachiman Shrine, no one can understand what a Hachiman shrine means at all. It is not entirely different from other shrines, such as the Atago shrine or Toranomon Kotohira-gu shrine, but it has some visible differences.
Therefore, visitors can experience several things here, such as a significant tall Main Tori Gate, several narrow but lovely entrances with small tori gates, the most influential and precious portable shrines, a lovely main shrine Hall with a vast open space, 14 small tori gates together, small bridges with beautiful koi fishes.
Besides, there are many Sumo monuments on the shrine’s premises. It also has Ino Tadataka’s statue, who was the first person who did survey Japan first.
In addition, there are some small shrines and statues on the shrine’s left side (the right side during the entrance of the main Tori Gate). A small shrine with a little long street is very tranquil, where you can see 14 tori gates together in front of a small shrine.
Main Tori:
The main shrine is visible from the main road. There is a big Tori Gate at the main entrance. Besides, several small and medium Tori Gates are built in different entrances, but these gates are not as big as the main Tori Gate.
There is a huge-long space from the Main Tori Gate to the Main Shrine, where weekly markets and festivals are usually held. Besides, there is open space between the road and the main Tori Gate, where sometimes many NPOs and volunteer organizations have their programs.
However, the main Tori Gate is one of the shrine’s main attractions because it is huge and tall. It is colorful too, which attracts visitors. Besides, the space between the main shrine and the main Tori Gate is one of the most attractive shooting spots in local dramas.
Sometimes, visitors can see local drama shootings here. Not only drama but also visitors feel taking photos here for their memories of visiting the shrine.
Biggest Mikoshi:
The most exciting thing to see here is ‘Mikoshi’ or in English ‘Portable Shrine.’ Mikoshi is very famous in Japan.
In a word, there are no Shinto festivals without Mikoshi.
But, Tomioka Hachiman Shrine has the biggest Mikoshi in the Kanto region. The Portable Shrines of the Tomioka Hachiman Shrine are decorated with diamonds.
However, visitors can see these precious massive Portable shrines from the outside, kept inside the main Tori Gate’s glass-fitting house. These portable shrines are brought out from storage only during the Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri, the shrine’s biggest festival.
After passing Portable Shrine Store is Handwashing. Two bird statues are fascinating.
Main Shrine:
During World War II, Tokyo was severely damaged, and on 10 March 1945, the shrine was burned because of the bombing. On 18 March, Emperor Hirohito, the 124th emperor of Japan, visited the shrine.
The shrine was rebuilt again, keeping the outlook the same. It is a gorgeous shrine. It has vast space in front of the shrine. The most fascinating is the roof of the shrine.
The Japanese traditional wooden carves attract visitors first. The modern Tokyo may not remind you that you are in Japan, but the Tomioka Hachiman Shrine’s wooden roof will definitely remind you that you are in Japan.
Left side:
The left side of the shrine is almost hidden from the main shrine. However, it is interesting to visit. Several Sumo monuments, small shrines with a few tori gates, bridges, and ponds with lovely fishes really attracted me.
Besides, there is an entrance with a tori gate at the side. Also, there is a giant wooden board hanging where the names of the donors are written on the board.
What I like most here is the long narrow path with small bridges over the tinny streams where there are many lovely fishes. It seems to me a small world that contains many elements of the world.
Undoubtedly, it is a fantastic design of the traditional Japanese shrine. Tomioka Hachiman Shrine makes it different from other shrines. Setagaya Hachiman shrine also has small bridges and shrines but smaller than Tomioka Hachiman Shrine.
Sumo monument:
Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine is connected to Sumo’s history in Japan. The Sumo tournament was first held at the shrine in the late 17th century, according to Sumo history. In addition, several monuments are seen on the shrine grounds, which are related to Sumo history.
Tomioka Hachiman Shrine was the main center of Sumo during the Edo Period. Sumo used to hold here every spring and winter.
It is good to know that there was no specific Sumo Stadium like Sumo Stadium in Sumida City during the Edo Period. But Sumo was popular as of now in Japan. On the other hand, Sumo was one of the best scales to justify the strength and skills of fighting among the soldiers without using any weapon.
So, Sumo was popular among the soldiers and high officials, including ordinary people in Japan. No doubt, because of its popularity, Sumo became the national game in Japan.
Nanawatari Benten Shrine:
Lucky charms or wooden omikuji are very famous in Shintoism and Buddhism in Japan. There is a special place for omikuji in every shrine and temple.
Who does not wish for a good future or luck? Everyone wishes for it. So, omikuji is one of the main parts of a shrine, and most of the people visit the shrine for their better future.
Some tourists visit to see the sites or culture. The lucky charm or omikuji board is enormous at Tomioka Hachiman Shrine.
Besides, there is a giant board where the names of the donors are written. The board is located on the left side of the shrine next to the Sumo monuments.
As the biggest Hachiman shrine in Tokyo, many devotees visit the shrine and donate for their better future. As a result, the donation board is probably bigger than other shrines.
After crossing the donation board, a tiny bridge over the pond, a small red tori gate, and a beautiful little shrine, where people offer fruits, eggs, etc.
Inariyashiro:
First of all, a longboard is hung in the Japanese alphabet. After that, a small bridge and a pond with lots of carps, finally, the tiny shrine, where devotees offer foods such as eggs, rice, and new crops.
Besides, there is one more shrine on the left side of this tiny shrine with 14 Tori Gates, attracting visitors immediately. Every pillar of the gate has an explanation in Japanese.
However, the main Tori Gate is the most attractive among all Tori Gates because of its red lampposts. Also, from the main Tori Gate, the main shrine is visible, giving a unique look.
Hachiman Bridge:
Hachiman Bridge is an important cultural property of Japan. Moreover, it is the First Iron Bridge in Japan over the Kaede River.
However, the bridge was one of the waterways supporting Tokyo logistics but was abandoned due to redevelopment after the Great Kanto Earthquake.
The bridge was relocated to Hachimanbori, which used to flow east of Hachimangu. There is no water under the bridge now, so it has become a meaningless bridge. Still, it is one of the valuable remains of the historical period from the early modern period to the modern period.
It’s a vital sight and worth visiting during your visit. Besides, lovely Cherries bloom nearby the bridge.
Festivals:
Besides, an antique fair is held at the shrine premises every weekend. Many local and international tourists visit the fair.
Most stalls sell toys, small wooden furniture, Japanese traditional household goods, kimono, and religious-related small idols. The goods may not be interesting for international tourists, but it is good to see local people with their small stalls.
The main festival of Tomioka Hachiman Shrine, the Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri, is considered one of the great festivals in Tokyo, which is held in mid-August once every three years, and the next festival will be in 2023.
120 Omikoshi, which are portable shrines, are borne through the streets from each neighborhood, 54 of which are paraded in the main festival event.
Access:
#Monzen-nakacho station(Tozai Subway Line)
3 minutes walk
# Monzen-nakacho Station(Toei Subway Oedo Line)
6 minutes walk
# Etchujima station(JR Keiyo Line)
15 minutes walk
Address:
1 Chome-20-3 Tomioka, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0047, Japan
Official website:
http://www.tomiokahachimangu.or.jp/
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