Located in the city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, Eight Sakyamani Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to Sakyamuni Buddha, revered by both Buddhists and Shinto practitioners alike. The shrine's name refers to its eight majestic stone statues, known as 'sakyamani,' believed to possess sacred powers. Visitors can purify themselves with holy water from the statue's mouth before proceeding to pray for good fortune, health, and prosperity.
- Religion
- shinto
- Kami enshrined
- Sakyamuni
- Coordinates
- 35.3710454, 136.2992178
Visitor tip
To purify your hands before praying, dip them into the holy water from the sakyamani statues' mouths, then rinse with tap water to activate the purification process.
Cultural notes
While primarily a Buddhist temple, Eight Sakyamani Shrine is also revered by Shinto practitioners for its association with the kami of Hikone. The shrine's unique blend of Buddhist and Shinto traditions reflects the region's cultural diversity and syncretism.
Historical note
The shrine was originally founded during the Sengoku period (1467-1603 CE), and has since been rebuilt several times, most notably after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.