Osaki Hachiman Shrine
Osaki Hachiman Shrine
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4.0
305 reviews
Excellent
88
Very good
148
Average
59
Poor
7
Terrible
3
Skaramoosh
Edmonton, Canada4,171 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
It's a fair bit of walking to the shrine. There's quite a number of people when we got there and everyone was trigger happy with their camera phones. There were lots of local Japanese who were celebrating different occasions and private events as well.
The architecture of the shrine is wonderful. Strolling around the grounds gives one a feeling of serenity even with lots of people milling around.
Highly Recommeded!
The architecture of the shrine is wonderful. Strolling around the grounds gives one a feeling of serenity even with lots of people milling around.
Highly Recommeded!
Written 17 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chuzaa
Vancouver, Canada3,479 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
We drove to the Osaki Hachiman-gu Shrine in the northeastern section of the city of Sendai. Our rental car GPS took us correctly to the shrine’s parking lot behind the main shrine building. From there, it’s a five-minute walk to the main shrine building.
Like the Zuiho-den Mausoleum, the Shrine was also constructed in the late Azuchi Momoyama Period (1573-1603, completed in 1607) with a major financial help by Lord Daté Masamune, the first of the Sendai Fiefdom.
The shrine buildings are all painted with pitch black Japanese lacquer (urushi). This is very unusual for Shinto shrines anywhere in Japan. The uniqueness of this shrine construction and decoration made it a National Treasure in 1952.
The deities of the Hachiman-gu shrine are aligned with some of the earliest mythical imperial family members of Japan and guardians of warriors, farmers and fishermen. The name Osaki is from the family that brought the Hachiman deities to the Sendai area.
Incidentally, it is strongly encouraged to offer some funds when one visits a shrine or a temple like this where there is no admission fee. In the central section of the front of the shrine building is a large box to throw some money in. Just learn it from Japanese prayers near you. Traditionally the Japanese people offer some small amount of change before start praying to the deity of a shrine or a temple. You’re not a follower of the shrine or the temple, so the money is not for praying, but for a small compensation by you for the maintenance. An appropriate amount today should be JPY100 – 200 per person.
Like the Zuiho-den Mausoleum, the Shrine was also constructed in the late Azuchi Momoyama Period (1573-1603, completed in 1607) with a major financial help by Lord Daté Masamune, the first of the Sendai Fiefdom.
The shrine buildings are all painted with pitch black Japanese lacquer (urushi). This is very unusual for Shinto shrines anywhere in Japan. The uniqueness of this shrine construction and decoration made it a National Treasure in 1952.
The deities of the Hachiman-gu shrine are aligned with some of the earliest mythical imperial family members of Japan and guardians of warriors, farmers and fishermen. The name Osaki is from the family that brought the Hachiman deities to the Sendai area.
Incidentally, it is strongly encouraged to offer some funds when one visits a shrine or a temple like this where there is no admission fee. In the central section of the front of the shrine building is a large box to throw some money in. Just learn it from Japanese prayers near you. Traditionally the Japanese people offer some small amount of change before start praying to the deity of a shrine or a temple. You’re not a follower of the shrine or the temple, so the money is not for praying, but for a small compensation by you for the maintenance. An appropriate amount today should be JPY100 – 200 per person.
Written 29 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sheldon K
Calabasas, CA1,357 contributions
Feb 2014 • Friends
The loople bus starts at the train station and for 600¥ it is an on/off bus. This stop is a nice view of the city and 20-30 minutes later you catch the next bus. Otherwise it is a long climb up hill to get here. There are descriptions of how the castle walls were constructed in English. There is a small Shinto shrine on the land and you can see a large Buddha off in the distance.
Written 8 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nelson M
Richmond, VA229 contributions
Aug 2012 • Couples
Beautiful Japanese gardens and old temple buildings. Excellent for photography. No bathrooms or food available: it is a working shrine.
Written 22 August 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
htodd503
Portland, OR74 contributions
Sept 2019
I'm a big fan of shrines and one year I went into every shrine I saw walking around Tokyo for a month. For some reason it felt like something was missing. It might be because they were setting up for a festival and there were lots of empty stalls being set up and you couldn't walk down the main path. It seemed a little disappointing.
Written 8 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liketorome
Dorset379 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
This is a lovely shrine to visit. Not terribly big but nicely laid out and the entrance via the 100 stairs is quite majestic.
Written 3 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maria D
255 contributions
Mar 2019 • Friends
This famous Sendai shrine dedicated to the god of war can be found at the end of a long stairway leading between tall hinoki cypress trees under several torii gates. The main hall is freshly renovated and has splendid dragon and tiger decorations. To make the most of the experience, read its history. Tip: if you do not like to climb, there is a back entrance with a more flat path to the shrine. A great place to contemplate and pray.
Written 17 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MinaLim_KUL
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia742 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
This shrine is a listed by the city as historical building! The have a video to show how the restoration was meticulously done. Worth watching if not is rush. If you are on the Loople Bus you can swap at the info center on the ground for a free postcard !
Written 16 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DYA717
Honolulu8,942 contributions
Aug 2015 • Solo
Black Shrine – God of War This shrine was ordered by Date Masamune for the God of War. It is well preserved, painted in black. This is a stop on the Loople Bus so is very easy to get to. One of 3 most visited spots along the Loople route according to the tourist information office. The 3 are Zuihoden Mausoleum, Sendai Castle Site and Osaki Hachimangu Shrine..
Written 16 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ConstantTraveller77
Melbourne, Australia304 contributions
Sept 2012 • Couples
This very impressive mausoleum at the top of a lot fo steps is worth the effort. The mausoleums are spectacular and the museum with its artefacts (and skulls) is worth a visit too.
Written 30 September 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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