Located in the heart of Ibaraki Prefecture, Eight Horseshoe Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of fertility and prosperity, known as Hachiman. The shrine's name 'Eight Horseshoe' refers to its distinctive eight curved roofs that resemble a horseshoe. Visitors can observe these unique roofs from various angles, creating a striking visual effect.
- Religion
- shinto
- Enshrined kami
- Hachiman
- Kami enshrined
- Hachiman, Fudō Myōō, Ōkuninushi, Tsukuyomi
- Coordinates
- 36.024208, 139.9898494
Visitor tip
To make an offering to Hachiman, tie a red string with your name on it and hang it from one of the eight curved roofs.
Cultural notes
In Ibaraki Prefecture, it is customary to visit Eight Horseshoe Shrine during the spring equinox (March 20-21) to pray for good harvests. According to local legend, a kami was said to have been buried on the shrine's grounds by Saemaeo no Ōno, a powerful samurai leader.
Historical note
The shrine was founded in the Heian period (794-1185 CE), and its current main hall is from the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE).