“Akagami Nioh?” a curious visitor asks. Once it sat in front of Tabata Hachiman Shrine’s torii gate. Now it is an adjoining sanctuary.
Welcome to Tabata Hachiman Shrine a peaceful place in bustling Tokyo. Even in a megalopolis the smallest place is steeped in history.
The shrines are small with an almost homely feel. But they do not place among the ranks of the famous on the list of more than 44000 Hachiman shrines in Japan. You will not often find two shrines to Hachiman, the god of war, within 500 meters of each other in many places. But you do in Tabata.
Tabata Hachiman Shrine is a regular sized shrine. It is guarded by the usual Inari statues. The shrine sits on the top of a little hill and is well kept.
Many neighborhoods in Tokyo have several shrines and temples. Hakusan Shrine is nearby. It is known for its hydrangea festival in July. Hakusan Shrine was established in 948 more than 1100 years ago. Temples and shrines happily coexisted until the late 19th century. The nationalist government then coopted the Shinto religion.
Before then the several temples around Tabata were part of the green circle. Tokugawa Ieyasu created this circle when he founded Edo. It was part of the fortifications making it more difficult for an invader to attack Edo Castle. It made it easier for the defenders to break out. These temples are often associated with graveyards. They often feature graves of samurai families. Regional governors also had their residences in the area. The shogun assigned these residences.
Tabata Hachiman Shrine may originally have been a harvest deity. This would make sense as Tabata was an agricultural area. Tokugawa Ieyasu founded Edo. As shogun and chief of the samurai caste he venerated the god of war.
Kami-Hachiman Jinja is less than five hundred meters walk to the northeast. This shrine also venerates Hachiman. Tomioka Hachiman Shrine is the biggest Hachiman shrine in Tokyo. Setagaya Hachiman Shrine is the second biggest Hachiman shrine. There are around 2500 Hachiman shrines in Japan.
The Hachiman god is a mixed belief from both Shinto and Buddhism. The shrine was built in 1627. It was in honor of Ojin the 15th legendary Emperor of Japan.
Hachiman was a local deity who used to follow Shintoism. He was from the Minamoto clan. This is the same as Emperor Ojin. Hachiman used to be the god of archery and war. He is also considered a divine protector of Japan. His symbolic messenger is a dove.
Tabata offers a blend of history and culture. Discover quiet shrines that provide a peaceful escape in this often overlooked Tokyo neighborhood. As you leave Tabata Hachiman Shrine may its peace stay with you.