石清水八幡宮
30 Yawata Takabo, Yawata City, Kyoto Prefecture
One of Japan's three major Hachiman shrines, said to be the second most important shrine after Ise Jingu.
It is considered a guardian shrine of Kyoto, protecting the city's rear demon gate as one of the top seven shrines of the Twenty-Two Shrines.
Established in 860, when six treasure halls were built at the summit of Mount Otokoyama.
On the mountainside, there is a cold spring known as "Iwashimizu," and before the main shrine was established, it is said there was a mountain temple called Iwashimizudera, founded by Gyoki.
Since its establishment, it has been particularly revered by the Minamoto clan.
Minamoto no Yoriyoshi, who possessed the sacred flag known as the Takeda clan's treasure, prayed for the prosperity of his family crest, and his son, Yoshie, called himself "Hachiman Taro," showing deep reverence.
Passing through the stone Myojin torii, a long approach lined with stone lanterns leads to the southern main gate.
Inside the main gate and the surrounding fence, large shrine buildings continue with a tower gate, a dance hall, a worship hall, and a main hall.
This old national treasure, which has undergone six reconstructions and 17 repairs, is now designated as an important cultural property by the country.
The main hall, known as Hachiman-zukuri, features two structures placed front and back, donated by Oda Nobunaga in 1580, with a "Golden Pipe." The corridor surrounding the main hall extends to a total length of 180 meters.
The tower gate, dance hall, and worship hall are all vividly decorated and painted with vermilion lacquer.
Around the shrine grounds, there are several subsidiary shrines, including the Wakamiya Shrine, which is particularly large.
Wakamiya Shrine enshrines Emperor Nintoku as the guardian deity of men, and the Wakamiya-dono Shrine enshrines the daughters of Emperor Ojin as the guardian deities of women.
Both are built in the gabled roof style and are designated important cultural properties.
| Location | 30 Yawata Takabo, Yawata City, Kyoto Prefecture |
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| Website | http://www.iwashimizu.or.jp/ |
| Deities | Emperor Ojin, Hime Okami, Empress Jingu |
| Important Cultural Properties | Main Hall and Outer Hall Including: Takeuchi Shrine Main Hall, Mizugaki Worship Hall and Dance Hall Tower Gate East Gate West Gate Corridors (between Tower Gate and East Gate) Corridors (between Tower Gate and West Gate) Rear Corridors Wakamiya Shrine Main Hall Wakamiya-dono Shrine Main Hall Suijinja Main Hall Sumiyoshi Shrine Main Hall East Main Gate West Main Gate North Main Gate Kario Shrine Main Hall |
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