Visited in person · Original photography
Origins and founding
Minamoto no Yoriyoshi is said to have brought Hachiman from Iwashimizu Hachimangu to Yuigahama in 1063. Minamoto no Yoritomo moved the shrine to its present site in 1180. It became the centre of the Kamakura shogunate. It is a member of the National Ichinomiya Association and calls itself the ichinomiya of Sagami Province. The traditional ichinomiya is Samukawa Jinja — one example of how some provinces have more than one claimant (→ Kami, ranks and lineages: Ichinomiya).
The first torii. It stands at the Hachimangu-mae junction.
What to see
Dankazura, the straight approach running from the sea to the shrine. It is said to form the spine of the town / the great stone steps / the Maiden stage / Genpei Ponds.
The great stone steps beyond the Maiden stage. The main shrine stands at the top.
Cultural context
The warrior class and Hachiman (→ Kami, ranks and lineages: Lineage). The Minamoto clan adopted Hachiman as a god of war. The cult then spread across Japan with warrior governments.