Kinno Hachimangu, the main shrine of Shibuya and Aoyama, which is closely related to Minamoto no Yoritomo and the Tokugawa family.

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This shrine is the origin of the name of the Shibuya area!

The name "Shibuya" dates back to the Heian period. The name "Shibuya" dates back to the Heian period (794-1185), when a warrior clan that controlled the Shibuya village in the vicinity of the current Takaza-Shibuya Station on the Odakyu Enoshima Line (formerly Shibuya Village, Takaza County), calling themselves the Shibuya clan, took over what is now Shibuya and built Shibuya Castle, of which only a few ruins remain.

What is Kaneo Hachimangu Shrine's Kaneo?

The name of the shrine, which was originally called Shibuya Hachimangu Shrine, is said to have been named after the valor of Shibuya Kinnomaru, the third son of Shigeie Shibuya, a military commander in the late Heian period. Kinnomaru's name appears in the Heiji Monogatari and the Chikamatsu Plays, and as Tosabo Masatoshi in Azuma Kagami and the Tale of the Heike, where he is depicted as a man of great military prowess. In memory of Kinnomaru Shibuya's loyalty, Minamoto no Yoritomo had a cherry tree sent from Kamakura and planted by the shrine, which remains today as one of the three most famous cherry trees in Edo. The shrine's deity, Emperor Ojin, is also known as a deity widely seen in Japan today, having been revered by many military commanders as the clan deity of the Genji clan, including Usa Hachiman Shrine and Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, and as the military deity Hachiman Shrine.

A healing shrine surrounded by greenery and buildings

A healing space where skyscrapers and greenery are in harmony.
The remains of Shibuya Castle remain beside the vermilion-lacquered worship hall.
The shrine is located on a small hill about a 5-minute walk from Shibuya Station, surrounded by greenery that makes you forget the hustle and bustle of the city, and is a place of relaxation for residents and office workers in the neighborhood, creating a gentle atmosphere that makes you want to take a break and relax.

Note the vermilion-lacquered shrine gate and worship hall and sculptures!

The shrine gate, built in the mid-Edo period, is designated as a tangible cultural property of Shibuya Ward.

Sculpture of the hall of worship

On the left side of the hall of worship, a sculpture of a tiger to the correct administration is placed.
On the right side of the hall of worship, a sculpture of a baku, a sacred animal said to be a symbol of peace in the world, is placed.

Cherry blossoms named after Shibuya Kinnomaru bloom in spring!

The Golden King Cherry Blossom, a rare cherry tree with a mixture of single and double blossoms, is in full bloom.
The cherry blossoms are illuminated when the weather is still chilly. The pink color shines in the evening darkness.
Kinno Hachiman Shrine, located only a few minutes from Shibuya Station, is the birthplace of the great metropolis of Shibuya, with its ethereal and luxurious beauty of sculptures reminiscent of the Edo period, and a peaceful and sacred atmosphere. When you visit Shibuya, pay a visit to the shrine on New Year's Day, or during the cherry blossom season, why not stop by and contemplate the history of the shrine and the cherry blossoms?
Photo courtesy of Kaneo Hachimangu Shrine
Kaneo Hachiman Shrine website
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