Oiwake Hachiman Shrine (追分八幡神社) is one of the main shrines of the town of Abira. It was once the main shrine of the town of Oiwake before it was merged with the town of Hayakita to form current-day Abira town. The shrine is located at 47 Oiwake Kashiwagaoka in the town of Abira in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan.
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| Oiwake Hachiman Shrine |
Oiwake Hachiman Shrine details
In 1891, the pioneering settlers established a modest shrine as a sacred abode for the guardian deity of Oiwake development. Seventeen years later, in 1908, the village's esteemed founders—Kisuke Onodera, Kotoshi Matsuura, Yaichi Ishigami, Tetsuzo Shinbo, Yuzo Kamo, and others—erected a more elaborate shrine on present-day Kashiwagaoka. This shrine, overlooking Oiwake Town, became the new repository for the sacred seal transferred from Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.
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| Oiwake Hachiman Shrine - Abira town, Hokkaido Prefecture |
On November 15th of that same year, Morio Sato, the head priest of Muroran Hachimangu Shrine, received an invitation to perform prayers for a bountiful harvest and the safety of the railways. In 1912, in honor of Emperor Taisho's visit to the shrine, a new shrine office was built, and Mizuho Tanaka assumed the role of the inaugural company president. Despite a setback in 1922 when the shrine building fell victim to an accidental fire, it was diligently reconstructed the following year.
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| Oiwake Hachiman Shrine's torii gate |
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| This kanji 献 燈 (read as kento) means lantern |
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| Oiwake Hachiman Shrine's chozuya |
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| Oiwake Hachiman Shrine's commemorative stamps |
In 1945, September 5th was officially declared as the festival day of Oiwake Hachiman Shrine, a moment documented in the shrine's statement book. Fast forward to 1978, during the 80th-anniversary project, a comprehensive renovation took place. A new shrine building, shrine office, kagura hall, and sacred relics were erected, and significant enhancements were made to the precincts. Oiwake Hachiman Shrine was reborn, embracing the unique architectural design called Gongenzo.
Oiwake Hachiman Shrine's Main Hall
September 1996 marked a crucial juncture in the shrine's history with the acquisition of a mikoshi and the construction of a new mikoshi hall as part of the centenary enshrinement project. Beyond revitalizing the shrine building, office, stairs, and other structures, a monument was erected, and a grand commemorative festival unfolded.
Oiwake Hachiman Shrine's komainu
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| Oiwake Hachiman Shrine komainu |
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| Oiwake Hachiman Shrine's a-gyo |
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| Oiwake Hachiman Shrine's un-gyo |
Today, Oiwake Hachiman Shrine stands as the revered dwelling place of the deities Hondawake no Mikoto and Okinagatarashihime no Mikoto. Encompassing a total shrine area of 172.1 square meters, it dutifully serves 1,700 households.
Team Nicerio visits Oiwake Hachiman Shrine
My family and I first visited Oiwake Hachiman Shrine last October 8, 2022, during our “October 8-10” Road Trip. It was my 341st day in Japan as an ALT under the JET Programme. It was the last shrine that we visited that day. My family and I visited the shrine as part of our family tradition of visiting the main shrine of the municipality which we will visit for the first time. During our visit, we offered prayers and also paid our respects.
Oiwake Hachiman Shrine Fees
It’s FREE to enter and explore Oiwake Hachiman Shrine grounds.
Oiwake Hachiman Shrine Operating Hours
Oiwake Hachiman Shrine grounds are open 24/7.
Why visit the Oiwake Hachiman Shrine?
Oiwake Hachiman Shrine was once the main shrine of the town of Oiwake. It is now one of the two main shrines of the town of Abira. The locals visit it to offer prayers and sometimes wish for healing and success. If you have the same belief, then you should add this beautiful shrine to your itinerary. However, if you collect goshuin stamps you’d be disappointed to learn that this shrine does not offer that. Instead, it has two commemorative shrine stamps.
Getting to Oiwake Hachiman Shrine
From Sapporo Station, board the Ozora 7 Limited Express Kushiro train. Board down at Oiwake Station.
From there, walk for about 650 meters going to Oiwake Hachiman Shrine.
Travel time: 1 hour and 1 minute
Fare: 3,170 yen
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