Located in the city of Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the god of thunder, Raijin, and the goddess of fortune, Benzaiten. The shrine is famous for its unique architectural style, featuring eight horizontal prongs on its main hall, resembling the shape of a horseshoe. These prongs are believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck to visitors.
- Religion
- shinto
- Enshrined kami
- Raijin (thunder god) and Benzaiten (goddess of fortune)
- Kami enshrined
- Raijin, Benzaiten
- Coordinates
- 35.7101227, 140.0353356
Visitor tip
To experience the best of the shrine's thunder god energy, visit during a stormy weather, or on a day when the wind is blowing from the north, as this is considered auspicious by locals.
Cultural notes
In Ibaraki Prefecture, it is customary to pray for good fortune and prosperity at Eight Horseshoe Shrine during the Obon festival in August. Additionally, visitors can see a unique shrine tradition called 'hina ni hoshi,' where devotees write their wishes on small paper lanterns and hang them from the shrine's eaves.
Historical note
Founded in the late Heian period (10th century), the shrine has been rebuilt several times due to fires and natural disasters.