Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine (長浜八幡宮)
Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine stands in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture. Its old classification of shrines was prefectural shrine (of prefectures other than Kyoto and Osaka), as well as Beppyo jinja (Shrines on the Special List). The shrine is famous for "Hikiyama-matsuri Festival", one of the Japan's three biggest Dashi Festival (Float Festival).
History
The shrine has been reportedly constructed by kanjo (ceremonial transfer of a divided tutelary deity to a new location) from Iwashimizu Hachimangu under the imperial decree of Emperor Gosanjo based on the desire of MINAMOTO no Yoshiie in the late Heian period (1069).
In the Sengoku period (period of warring states) it decayed in the war flames but was revived by Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI, the lord of the Nagahama-jo Castle (Omi Province).
Since the Heian period, the Shinhojyo-ji Temple, the bettoji (a temple attached to a shrine), had been stood in the precincts of a shrine, however, it was abandoned by the Ordinance Distinguishing Shinto and Buddhism in the early Meiji period. The Buddha statue and materials were all moved to the Shana-in Temple of a branch temple which was left alone.
Enshrined Deities
Higashi Gozen
Tarashinakatsuhiko no mikoto (Emperor Chuai)
Naka Gozen
Homutawakenomikoto (Emperor Ojin)
Nishi Gozen
Okinagatarashihime no mikoto (Empress Jingu)
Precincts of Shrine
Haiden (a hall of worship)
Honden (main shrine)
Sessha (auxiliary shrine (dedicated to a deity close-related to that of a main shrine)) Kora-jinja Shrine
Sessha Tsukubusuma-jinja Shrine
Sessha Tenman-gu Shrine
Sessha Konpira-gu Shrine
Massha (smaller shrine managed under the shrine) Suehiro Inari-jinja Shrine
Massha Jishu-jinja Shrine
Massha Kumano-jinja Shrine
Negaitoshite-ya
Rites and Festivals
Hikiyama-matsuri Festival
From April 13 to the morning of 17
A traditional event started from the Azuchi-Momoyama Period
One of the Japan's three biggest Dashi Festival (Float Festival)
Access
A 13 minutes-walk from Nagahama Station of JR Biwako Line
Information for Nearby Spots
Daitsu-ji Temple (Nagahama City)
Kurokabe Square
Shana-in Temple
Nagahama Red Cross Hospital