Nagoya Shrine Visit Report 2025 Mizuho No.29 Hamashin Shrine
Hama Shinmei Shrine (Mizuho Ward, Nagoya) — A Small Precinct with a 16th-Century Date
On December 18, 2025, I visited Hama Shinmei Shrine in Mizuho Ward, Nagoya.
Before anything else: “Hama” means “beach.” The name itself feels like a fossil of the landscape—quietly preserving what the area once was, even as the modern city continues to build around it.
At a glance
| Visit date | December 18, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Location | Shioiri-cho, Mizuho Ward, Nagoya |
| Enshrined deity | Amaterasu Omikami (the Sun Goddess) |
| Founded | Unknown (exact founding year is not clearly recorded) |
| Signature landmark | Moon-waiting memorial tower (includes a “17th-night” tower), dated AD 1589 (Tensho 17) |
What I saw on site
Even in a compact space, the shrine’s “shape” is unmistakable: a stone torii gate, a short approach, and a calm interior where the atmosphere changes by a single step. The precinct is not large, but the stones carry presence—shrine name stones, lanterns, and the kind of small details that make you slow down and look carefully.
At the inner end, multiple small shrines stand close together. When space is limited, everything that remains feels intentional. Nothing is wasted; everything is condensed.
Why “Hama” matters (Hama = beach)
Local history describes this area as once being associated with a coastal “hama” landscape, including stories of a ferry landing and salt-making connected to offerings to Ise. Whether you arrive with that knowledge or not, the word Hama invites a different way of seeing: it suggests that the land beneath today’s streets has changed more than once, and the shrine name refused to forget it.
The core of the story: AD 1589 (Tensho 17)
The highlight of Hama Shinmei Shrine is the moon-waiting memorial tower (including a “17th-night” tower) dated AD 1589. That number alone changes the scale of this place. It is not just a neighborhood stop—it is a point where a 16th-century date still stands above ground, in the middle of everyday Nagoya.
Note: I could not capture the year inscription clearly enough in my photos this time. Stone carvings can disappear depending on light and angle. I will return to photograph the date properly—full view and close-up—so the record can stand on visual evidence, not just description.
Brief timeline (AD)
| AD 1589 | Moon-waiting memorial tower (includes a 17th-night tower), dated Tensho 17 |
|---|---|
| AD 1908 | Merged into Tsugata Shrine (recorded as a historical administrative change) |
| AD 1940 | Relocated/returned to the current area (recorded as a later restoration of presence) |
Closing
Hama Shinmei Shrine is small, but it is not “light.” The name points to the beach, the stones hold time, and a single date—1589—anchors everything with unexpected force. It was the kind of visit where the city feels modern, but the ground beneath your feet feels older than it should.
There was a water basin across the road, a remnant of the land readjustment.