Nagoya, Japan Shrine Visit Report 2026 Atsuta No.38 Chitose Hachiman Jinja

May 12, 2026

Chitose Hachiman Shrine in Atsuta Ward, Japan — A Guardian Shrine of Sakuranitta Reclaimed Land

On May 7, 2026, I visited Chitose Hachiman Shrine in Chitose 2-chome, Atsuta Ward, Nagoya.
Chitose Hachiman Shrine is a Hachiman shrine that was enshrined as the main guardian shrine of Atsuta Tsukiji-mae Shinkai, later known as Sakuranitta.
At the current site, I could confirm a stone torii gate, komainu guardian statues, stone lanterns, a stone water basin, a worship hall, the main shrine building, auxiliary shrines, a monument for war dead, a memorial monument, and a history stone.

This shrine is not simply a Hachiman shrine located in Chitose 2-chome.
According to the history stone, the Hachiman deity was originally enshrined at a place connected with the Owari Tokugawa family, and in 1837 it was enshrined as the main guardian shrine when Atsuta Tsukiji-mae Shinkai was developed.

Today, the shrine grounds may look like a local neighborhood shrine surrounded by homes and roads.
However, by reading the history stone and looking at the stone features, we can see that this area was once developed as reclaimed land, and that local faith has been arranged and maintained at the current site through repeated disasters.

Stone torii gate and shrine name marker at Chitose Hachiman Shrine in Atsuta Ward Nagoya Japan — The worship hall can be seen beyond the stone torii gate. On the right side, there is a stone marker engraved with “Hachiman Shrine.” Beyond the torii gate, in front of the worship hall, there appears to be a banpei, a screen-like wall often seen at shrines in Nagoya and the Owari region. It is said to help separate the approach from the shrine building.

Front of the worship hall at Chitose Hachiman Shrine in Nagoya Japan — This is the front of the worship hall. The plaque reads “Chitose Hachiman Shrine.” The photo shows that the shrine layout is well arranged at the current site.

Front of the worship hall at Chitose Hachiman Shrine in Atsuta Ward Nagoya Japan — This is the front of the worship hall. The plaque reads “Chitose Hachiman Shrine.” The photo shows that the shrine layout is well arranged at the current site.

Stone lantern at Chitose Hachiman Shrine in Nagoya Japan — Several Kasuga-style stone lanterns engraved with “kento,” meaning dedicated lantern, can be seen inside the grounds. Looking at these lanterns gives a sense of the layers of local dedication and faith.

Stone lantern at Chitose Hachiman Shrine in Atsuta Ward Nagoya Japan — Several Kasuga-style stone lanterns engraved with “kento,” meaning dedicated lantern, can be seen inside the grounds. Looking at these lanterns gives a sense of the layers of local dedication and faith.

Komainu guardian statue at Chitose Hachiman Shrine in Nagoya Japan — The komainu guardian statues have clear facial expressions and carved manes. Their appearance between the columns of the worship hall, and the word “hono,” meaning donation, on the pedestal, show how the shrine has been maintained by local people.

Another komainu guardian statue at Chitose Hachiman Shrine in Nagoya Japan — The komainu guardian statues have clear facial expressions and carved manes. Their appearance between the columns of the worship hall, and the word “hono,” meaning donation, on the pedestal, show how the shrine has been maintained by local people.

History stone of Chitose Hachiman Shrine in Atsuta Ward Nagoya Japan — The history stone records the enshrined deities, auxiliary shrines, natural disasters, wartime damage, and rebuilding history. It is one of the most important sources for understanding Chitose Hachiman Shrine.

History stone of Chitose Hachiman Shrine in Nagoya Japan — The history stone records the enshrined deities, auxiliary shrines, natural disasters, wartime damage, and rebuilding history. It is one of the most important sources for understanding Chitose Hachiman Shrine.

Monument for war dead and memorial monument at Chitose Hachiman Shrine in Nagoya Japan — A monument for war dead and a memorial monument can be confirmed at the current site. One of the monuments commemorates civilian victims of the Atsuta air raid, showing that this shrine also serves as a place of local memory.

Water purification shelter at Chitose Hachiman Shrine in Atsuta Ward Nagoya Japan — The stone water basin is engraved with “hono,” meaning donation. As a stone feature that can be confirmed at the current site, it helps form the space for worship.

Stone water basin at Chitose Hachiman Shrine in Atsuta Ward Nagoya Japan — The stone water basin is engraved with “hono,” meaning donation. As a stone feature that can be confirmed at the current site, it helps form the space for worship.

Hyakudo ishi prayer stone at Chitose Hachiman Shrine in Nagoya Japan — A hyakudo-ishi can also be confirmed inside the grounds. This stone is connected with hyakudo-mairi, a form of prayer in which a person walks back and forth repeatedly, often one hundred times, between the main shrine and the marker stone. It shows that the shrine has also been a place for everyday prayer.

Hyakudo ishi prayer stone at Chitose Hachiman Shrine in Atsuta Ward Nagoya Japan — A hyakudo-ishi can also be confirmed inside the grounds. This stone is connected with hyakudo-mairi, a form of prayer in which a person walks back and forth repeatedly, often one hundred times, between the main shrine and the marker stone. It shows that the shrine has also been a place for everyday prayer.

Chitose Hachiman Shrine in Chitose 2-chome Atsuta Ward Nagoya Japan seen from the street — From the street, the shrine grounds are enclosed by a stone wall and a white fence. Although the shrine stands along a road, trees and stone features are arranged inside the grounds.

Another entrance view of Chitose Hachiman Shrine in Atsuta Ward Nagoya Japan — From the street, the shrine grounds are enclosed by a stone wall and a white fence. Although the shrine stands along a road, trees and stone features are arranged inside the grounds.

At a Glance

Location	Chitose 2-chome 36-5, Atsuta Ward, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Shrine Name	Hachimansha Shrine, Chitose Hachiman Shrine
Founded	1837
Main Deity	Homutawake no Mikoto, also known as Emperor Ojin
Former Shrine Rank	Former designated village shrine
Shrine Character	A Hachiman shrine enshrined as the main guardian shrine of Atsuta Tsukiji-mae Shinkai, later known as Sakuranitta
Visible on Site	Stone torii gate, komainu, stone lanterns, stone water basin, worship hall, main shrine building, auxiliary shrines, monument for war dead, memorial monument, and history stone

Enshrined Deity

Main Deity	Homutawake no Mikoto
Also Known As	Emperor Ojin
Shrine Type	Hachimansha Shrine
Nature of Worship	Hachiman worship is centered on Emperor Ojin and is associated with martial protection, national protection, and local guardian faith.
Meaning at This Shrine	As the main guardian shrine of Atsuta Tsukiji-mae Shinkai, later known as Sakuranitta, it can be understood as a shrine that protected the local community.

Auxiliary Shrines

Auxiliary Shrines	Tado Shrine and Akiba Shrine
Tado Shrine	The history stone lists Amatsuhikone no Mikoto and Ame no Mahitotsu no Mikoto as the deities of Tado Shrine.
Akiba Shrine	Akiba Shrine is associated with protection from fire and fire-related disasters.

The main deity of Chitose Hachiman Shrine is Homutawake no Mikoto.
Homutawake no Mikoto is identified with Emperor Ojin, the central deity of Hachiman worship.

This shrine is said to have been enshrined as the main guardian shrine of Atsuta Tsukiji-mae Shinkai, later known as Sakuranitta.
In other words, Hachiman was enshrined here as the guardian deity of newly developed land.

The Main Guardian Shrine of Atsuta Tsukiji-mae Shinkai

The important point about Chitose Hachiman Shrine is its deep connection with the development of reclaimed land.

According to the shrine tradition, the Hachiman deity was originally enshrined at a place connected with the Owari Tokugawa family. In 1837, when Atsuta Tsukiji-mae Shinkai was developed, it was enshrined as the main guardian shrine of the new land.

Atsuta Tsukiji-mae Shinkai later became known as Sakuranitta.
Chitose Hachiman Shrine can therefore be understood as a central guardian shrine for the people who lived on that newly developed land.

A Shrine That Went Through Floods, Earthquakes, War Damage, and Rebuilding

The history stone at Chitose Hachiman Shrine records repeated damage from the 1854 Ansei Tokai earthquake, storms, the 1891 Nobi earthquake, wartime destruction, and the 1959 Isewan Typhoon.

The shrine buildings and stone features worshiped at the current site were arranged through this long process of damage and rebuilding.

A monument for war dead and a memorial monument can also be confirmed in the grounds.
The memorial monument is said to have been built to console the civilian victims of the Atsuta air raid on June 9, 1945.

This shrine is not only a guardian shrine of reclaimed land. It is also a place that conveys memories of disasters, war damage, and rebuilding at the current site.

Stone Lanterns, Komainu, and Stone Water Basin

What impressed me most inside the shrine grounds was the number of stone features.

Stone lanterns, komainu, and a stone water basin can be confirmed at the current site.
The Kasuga-style stone lanterns in particular have detailed decoration, and you can also see characters and deer motifs.

The komainu are placed in front of the worship hall, and the word “hono,” meaning donation, can be seen on the pedestal.
These stone features show how the shrine has been maintained by local people.

Historical Timeline

AD	Event
1837	The Hachiman deity was enshrined as the main guardian shrine when Atsuta Tsukiji-mae Shinkai was developed.
1841	A stone water basin is said to have been donated.
1854	The shrine buildings are said to have collapsed in the Ansei Tokai earthquake.
1860	The shrine is said to have suffered damage from a storm.
1872	The shrine was classified as a village shrine.
1873	The shrine is said to have suffered storm damage and was moved to the current site.
1891	The shrine is said to have suffered major damage in the Nobi earthquake.
1935	The shrine became a designated shrine.
1945-06-09	The Atsuta air raid burned the shrine buildings, and many local residents were killed.
1959	The shrine buildings collapsed in the Isewan Typhoon.
1978	A memorial monument was built for the civilian victims of the Atsuta air raid.
1979	The main shrine building and worship hall are said to have been rebuilt.
Today	Chitose Hachiman Shrine is still worshiped today in Chitose 2-chome, Atsuta Ward, Nagoya.

What the Photos Show

The photos show that Chitose Hachiman Shrine is carefully arranged and maintained within the local community.

From the street, you can see the stone torii gate, shrine name marker, and worship hall.
Inside the grounds, komainu, stone lanterns, a stone water basin, auxiliary shrines, a monument for war dead, a memorial monument, and the history stone can be confirmed at the current site.

What stands out most is the number of stone features.
By looking at the stone lanterns, komainu, stone water basin, and memorial monuments, we can see that this shrine is not simply a small local shrine. It is a place where the memories of land development, disasters, war damage, and rebuilding overlap.

Why This Shrine Matters

Chitose Hachiman Shrine was enshrined as the main guardian shrine of Sakuranitta.

Its story begins with the development of new land in 1837. Since then, the shrine has continued to be worshiped at the current site through floods, earthquakes, war damage, and typhoons.

By looking at the stone lanterns, komainu, stone water basin, memorial monument, and history stone that can be confirmed inside the grounds, we can read not only local faith, but also memories of disaster and recovery.

Chitose Hachiman Shrine is an important shrine for understanding the history of land in southern Atsuta Ward.

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Written on: May 9, 2026

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