Nagoya, Japan Shrine Visit Report 2026 Midori No.2 Hachimansha
On August 27, 2026, I visited Hachimansha Shrine at 14 Machiyagawa, Odaka-cho, Midori Ward, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.
Hachimansha stands in the old town of Odaka, not far from the ruins of Odaka Castle. The shrine is closely connected with the history of this area.
The shrine's historical record and official information from Nagoya City's Midori Ward describe a long history involving Hanai Bitchu-no-kami, lord of Odaka Castle, traditions connected with Minamoto no Yoritomo and Hachiman worship, the Mizuno family during the Sengoku period, and a visit by the young Tokugawa Ieyasu.
One particularly interesting tradition says that in 1561, the year after the Battle of Okehazama, 20-year-old Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was still known as Matsudaira Motoyasu at the time, visited Hachimansha and received prayers here.
Photo Record of Hachimansha
001 Entrance to Hachimansha
The shrine entrance as seen from the road.
A stone torii gate, shrine markers, and stone fencing stand along the approach, with the shrine grounds beyond them.
002 Historical Information Board
An information board near the entrance explains the history of Hachimansha.
It introduces the shrine's deities, its founding traditions, its connection with Odaka Castle, and the visit by Tokugawa Ieyasu.
003 Komainu at Hachimansha
A stone komainu guardian stands beside the approach.
Its curled hair and tail are carefully carved.
004 Matching Komainu
The matching komainu on the opposite side.
Together, the pair guards the shrine approach.
005 Shinzen Type Stone Lantern
A large Shinzen Type stone lantern standing within the shrine grounds.
The openings of its fire box have been filled with stone, giving the lantern an unusual appearance.
006 Matching Shinzen Type Stone Lantern
The matching Shinzen Type stone lantern on the opposite side.
The two lanterns stand as a pair along the approach.
007 Shrine Grounds
A wider view of the shrine grounds.
The worship hall stands ahead, surrounded by stone lanterns and other shrine structures.
008 Historical Record of Hachimansha
A detailed historical record displayed at the shrine.
I used this on-site document as an important source for researching the shrine's history.
009 Monument Dated 2002
The stone monument is inscribed with the year 2002.
On relatively recent Japanese monuments, it is not unusual to find a Western calendar year instead of a traditional Japanese era date.
010 Purification Pavilion
The shrine's purification pavilion.
A large stone water basin stands beneath the wooden roof.
011 Stone Purification Basin
A large granite purification basin.
The front bears the inscription "Senshin," a phrase associated with cleansing or purifying the heart and mind.
012 Dragon Water Spout
A metal dragon-shaped water spout is attached to the purification basin.
Its scales, horns, and wings are modeled in considerable detail.
013 Shinzen Type Stone Lantern in Front of the Worship Hall
A Shinzen Type stone lantern standing in front of the worship hall.
Its roof and fire box show the effects of many years of exposure to the weather.
014 Matching Shinzen Type Stone Lantern
The corresponding lantern on the opposite side.
The pair stands symmetrically in front of the worship hall.
015 Kasuga-Type Stone Lantern
A Kasuga-type stone lantern near the worship hall.
Its roof, fire box, and middle platform have decorative carved details.
016 Matching Kasuga-Type Stone Lantern
The matching Kasuga-type lantern on the opposite side.
The weathered stone surface reflects its long exposure outdoors.
017 Inari Shrine
An Inari Shrine located to the right of the main worship hall.
This small subsidiary shrine occupies its own space within the grounds.
018 Kotohira Shrine
Kotohira Shrine stands to the right of the Inari Shrine.
Stone lanterns stand on both sides of the small shrine building.
019 Akiba Shrine
Akiba Shrine is another subsidiary shrine within the grounds.
Akiba worship is traditionally associated with protection against fire.
020 Hoanden Preserved on the Shrine Grounds
A stone Hoanden preserved in one corner of the shrine grounds.
A chrysanthemum crest remains above the entrance. The building is now used to store historical materials from the local school district.
021 Information Board for the Hoanden
According to the information board, this Hoanden was built in 1928 on the south side of the grounds of the former Odaka Jinjo Elementary School.
It was buried underground in 1946, but rediscovered in 1997 and restored by local residents.
022 Hachimansha and the Hoanden
A view from the roadside.
Hachimansha is on the left, and the preserved Hoanden is on the right.
Basic Information
| Name | Hachimansha |
|---|---|
| Location | 14 Machiyagawa, Odaka-cho, Midori Ward, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan |
| Main Deities | Emperor Ojin, Empress Jingu, Tamayori-hime |
| Foundation / Relocation | According to shrine tradition, the shrine was established in Odaka around 1200 |
| Historical Figures | Minamoto no Yoritomo, Hanai Bitchu-no-kami, Mizuno Izumi-no-kami, Tokugawa Ieyasu (then known as Matsudaira Motoyasu) |
| Related Historic Site | Odaka Castle Ruins |
| Subsidiary Shrines | Inari Shrine, Kotohira Shrine, Akiba Shrine, and others |
Hachiman Worship, Minamoto no Yoritomo, and the Move to Odaka
The historical record displayed at Hachimansha explains the shrine's origins based on shrine tradition and records preserved by the Harada family, who served the shrine for many generations.
According to this tradition, the shrine's origins are connected with Minamoto no Yoritomo and the Hachiman worship associated with Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in Kamakura. The tradition says that the deity was first enshrined in Sagami Province and was later transferred to Odaka by Hanai Bitchu-no-kami, lord of Odaka Castle.
In Odaka, Hachiman was said to have been enshrined at two locations: the present site at Machiyagawa and within Odaka Castle.
The exact date of the transfer to Odaka is unknown, but the shrine's historical record places it at around 1200.
Official information from Nagoya City's Midori Ward also introduces the tradition that Hanai Bitchu-no-kami brought Hachiman worship from Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and enshrined it both here and within Odaka Castle.
Odaka Castle and Hachimansha
The connection with Odaka Castle is important for understanding the history of Hachimansha.
Odaka Castle is well known for an episode immediately before the Battle of Okehazama in 1560. Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was still known as Matsudaira Motoyasu, was serving Imagawa Yoshimoto at the time. He successfully delivered military provisions to Odaka Castle while the castle was under pressure from Oda forces.
The ruins of Odaka Castle are now designated as a National Historic Site of Japan, and traces of its defensive earthworks, including moats and passages, remain. Hachimansha is also closely connected with the history of the old Odaka castle town.
The Mizuno Family and Hachimansha
According to the shrine's historical record, Mizuno Izumi-no-kami became lord of Odaka Castle sometime between 1469 and 1486. His son Daizen and others later donated land valued at thirty kanmon to Hachimansha.
The record states that this land eventually passed into the hands of the Toyotomi government during the political changes of the late Sengoku period.
Tokugawa Ieyasu Visited Hachimansha in 1561 at Age 20
According to the historical record at the shrine, Tokugawa Ieyasu, then known as Matsudaira Motoyasu, visited Hachimansha in 1561 at the age of 20 and received prayers here.
The previous year, in 1560, Ieyasu had successfully delivered provisions to Odaka Castle under orders from Imagawa Yoshimoto. Soon afterward, however, Yoshimoto was killed at the Battle of Okehazama, dramatically changing Ieyasu's political position.
Ieyasu returned to Okazaki and made Okazaki Castle his base. From there, he began recovering former Matsudaira territories and reorganizing his retainers.
By 1561, Ieyasu was moving away from Imagawa control and beginning to establish himself as an independent ruler in Mikawa. He was strengthening his position in western Mikawa while moving toward the unification of the province.
His visit to Hachimansha therefore took place during an important turning point in his life: long before he founded the Tokugawa shogunate, but just as he was beginning to build an independent political base of his own.
Modern Reconstruction and Improvements
Hachimansha has undergone several major renovations in modern times.
According to the shrine's historical record, the worship hall, connecting hall, torii gate, purification pavilion, and other structures were rebuilt in 1914.
The main sanctuary was renovated in 1981, followed by reconstruction of the shrine office in 1999.
Official information from Nagoya City's Midori Ward states that work beginning in 2001 included renovation of the worship hall and norito prayer hall, construction of a new purification pavilion, and installation of new stone fencing. A completion celebration was held in September 2002. The shrine's own historical record summarizes this period as the rebuilding of the worship hall and improvement of the shrine grounds in 2002.
Today, older stone lanterns remain alongside shrine buildings, paths, and stonework that were renewed during the modern period.
The Preserved Hoanden
A former school Hoanden is preserved within the shrine grounds.
Before and during World War II, Hoanden buildings were used at Japanese schools to store official portraits of the Emperor and Empress and copies of the Imperial Rescript on Education.
According to the information board beside the building, this Hoanden was constructed in 1928 on the south side of the grounds of the former Odaka Jinjo Elementary School.
In 1946, following postwar orders to dispose of such structures, the building was buried underground at the site.
It remained buried until 1997, when it was rediscovered during construction work for a nearby fire brigade building.
Local residents chose to preserve the structure as part of the area's history and restored it. The chrysanthemum crest above the entrance is also said to date from the original building.
Today, the former Hoanden is used to store historical materials from the local school district.
Stone Lanterns and Other Stonework
Several different types of stone lanterns remain within the shrine grounds, including Shinzen Type and Kasuga-type lanterns.
Near the worship hall are lanterns with decorative roofs and fire boxes, as well as simpler examples. Together, they show that stone objects were donated to the shrine over a long period of time.
During my visit, I photographed the differences in their forms and weathering. Where an inscription or reliable record does not confirm the date of a stone object, I have not assigned a specific date to it.
Dragon Water Spout and Stone Purification Basin
The purification pavilion contains a large stone water basin.
The front is inscribed with the word "Senshin," referring to the cleansing or purification of the heart and mind. Above it is a metal water spout shaped like a dragon.
The dragon is modeled in three dimensions, with detailed scales, wings, and horns, creating a distinctive contrast with the massive stone basin below.
Historical Timeline of Hachimansha
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1180 | According to shrine tradition, the origins of Hachimansha are connected with Minamoto no Yoritomo and the Hachiman worship associated with Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in Kamakura. |
| Around 1200 | According to the shrine's historical record, Hanai Bitchu-no-kami transferred Hachiman worship to Odaka, where it was enshrined both at the present site and within Odaka Castle. |
| 1469–1486 | Mizuno Izumi-no-kami became lord of Odaka Castle, and his son Daizen and others are said to have donated land to Hachimansha. |
| 1560 | Tokugawa Ieyasu, then known as Matsudaira Motoyasu, successfully delivered military provisions to Odaka Castle under orders from Imagawa Yoshimoto. Yoshimoto was killed later that year at the Battle of Okehazama. |
| 1561 | Tokugawa Ieyasu, then known as Matsudaira Motoyasu, is said to have visited Hachimansha at the age of 20 and received prayers here. At this time, he was based at Okazaki Castle and moving toward independence from the Imagawa family. |
| 1914 | According to the shrine's historical record, the worship hall, connecting hall, torii gate, purification pavilion, and other structures were rebuilt. |
| 1928 | The Hoanden that is now preserved at Hachimansha was built on the south side of the grounds of Odaka Jinjo Elementary School. |
| 1946 | The Hoanden was buried underground following a postwar disposal order. |
| 1981 | The main sanctuary was renovated. |
| 1997 | The buried Hoanden was rediscovered during construction work and later restored by local residents. |
| 1999 | The shrine office was renovated. |
| 2001–2002 | The worship hall and norito prayer hall were renovated, a new purification pavilion was built, stone fencing was installed, and other improvements were made. A completion celebration was held in September 2002. |
Deities of Hachimansha
| Deity | Who is this deity? |
|---|---|
| Emperor Ojin | Widely worshiped as Hachiman, a major deity who became especially important to Japan's warrior families. |
| Empress Jingu | Traditionally regarded as the mother of Emperor Ojin and frequently worshiped together with him in Hachiman shrines. |
| Tamayori-hime | A deity who is also enshrined together with Emperor Ojin and Empress Jingu in Hachiman worship. |
Subsidiary Shrines
| Subsidiary Shrine | Deity Commonly Associated with the Tradition | What is this deity associated with? |
|---|---|---|
| Inari Shrine | Uka-no-Mitama-no-Kami | A major deity of Inari worship, traditionally associated with agriculture, abundant harvests, food, and prosperity in business. |
| Kotohira Shrine | Omononushi-no-Kami | A deity commonly associated with Kotohira worship and widely revered for protection at sea, safe travel, and the protection of livelihoods and industries. |
| Akiba Shrine | Kagutsuchi-no-Kami | A deity associated with fire. In Akiba worship, the deity is especially revered for protection against destructive fires. |
During this visit, I confirmed the presence of the Inari Shrine, Kotohira Shrine, and Akiba Shrine within the grounds. The deities listed above are those commonly associated with these religious traditions in Japan. I have not found a source that individually confirms the enshrined deity of each subsidiary shrine at this specific Hachimansha.
Conclusion
Hachimansha in Odaka preserves layers of local history ranging from traditions connected with Minamoto no Yoritomo and Hachiman worship to the lords of Odaka Castle, the Mizuno family, and the young Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Ieyasu's reported visit in 1561 is particularly interesting because it took place just one year after the delivery of provisions to Odaka Castle and the Battle of Okehazama. He had returned to Okazaki Castle and was beginning to move away from Imagawa control while building his own power in Mikawa.
The shrine grounds also preserve a wide range of physical evidence from later periods, including several types of stone lanterns, a large stone purification basin with a dragon water spout, the Inari, Kotohira, and Akiba subsidiary shrines, and a Hoanden built in 1928, buried after the war, and rediscovered and restored in 1997.
Hachimansha preserves layers of local history stretching from the medieval and Sengoku periods into modern Japan. I did not visit the nearby Odaka Castle Ruins on this trip, but I plan to visit them when I am in the area again.
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Recorded on August 27, 2026
Written on August 31, 2026