Shirakawa Hachiman Shrine

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Shirakawa Hachiman Shrine

A shrine known as the setting for a popular anime, located within the Shirakawa-go village.

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Nestled within the World Heritage-listed Shirakawa-go gassho-zukuri (thatched-roof) village, this shrine dates back to the Wado era (708-715).

The main deity enshrined here is Emperor Ojin, and the Buddha Hall situated to the right of the shrine's main sanctuary is a remnant of the syncretic fusion of Shinto and Buddhism. It is said that the Buddha Hall was constructed in 1627 by the then-lord Yamashita Ujikatsu. An old cedar tree within the shrine grounds stands about 30 meters tall and has been designated as a natural monument by the village.

Each year from the end of September to October, Shirakawa Village celebrates the Doburoku Festival to pray for a bountiful harvest, safety within the household, and peace in the village. During this festival, visitors to Shirakawa Hachiman Shrine are also served doburoku (a kind of home-brewed sake).

Highlights

  • A historic shrine situated within the thatched-roof village.
  • The ancient cedar on the shrine grounds is designated as a natural monument by the village.
  • Visitors are treated to doburoku during the Doburoku Festival.

Photos

  • A serene and tranquil atmosphere pervades the shrine grounds.

    A serene and tranquil atmosphere pervades the shrine grounds.

Official FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions have been vetted and answered directly by each listing.

Q

Do you have pamphlets in other languages? (If so, please also inform us of the supported languages)

A

Sorry, we don’t.

Q

Do you have shrine’s red ink stamps?

A

No, we don’t have.

Q

Is parking available?

A

Not available.

Q

Are coin lockers available?

A

Not available.

Reviews

3

Some reviews are AI-translated.

  • See More

    This time I visited Hatogaya Hachiman Shrine. Compared with other, more famous shrines in Japan, it was much quieter here. There weren’t huge crowds, and I didn’t have to keep waiting for people to move out of the way before taking photos. I could take my time walking around and taking pictures, and the whole setting felt very comfortable.

    Personally, I think this place is really great for photography. Every angle has a different feel, and every photo comes out looking good. You also don’t have to worry about getting a bunch of strangers in your shots, so you can frame your photos however you want. That’s a big plus! At popular shrines, sometimes you have to wait a long time just to find a good angle, and you still might not get a photo you’re happy with. A quieter place like this lets you really appreciate the surroundings instead.

    It was really nice to come across a place like this during the trip. There was no need to rush or squeeze through crowds. I could just walk around and take photos slowly at my own pace. If you also like quieter shrines and want to take some good photos, you’ll feel very comfortable exploring here and can come away with plenty of photos you like.

  • See More

    The first thing I felt when I entered Shirakawa Hachiman Shrine was, "It's so quiet and peaceful!" Surrounded by mountain forests, there's none of the city's noise—only the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves. The whole atmosphere has a distinctively rural Japanese feel. Together with Shirakawa-go's unique gassho-style scenery, it feels like stepping into an old Japanese landscape painting.

  • See More

    I finally made it to this once-in-a-lifetime hidden paradise—Shirakawa-go.

Details

Name in Japanese
白川八幡神社
Postal Code
501-5627
Address
559 Ogimachi, Shirakawa Village, Onogun, Gifu
Telephone
05769-6-1013(Shirakawa-go Tourism Association)
Closed
Irregular holidays
Business Hours
8:00am - 5:00pm
Admission
Free
Access
About 8 minutes by car from Shirakawa-go IC on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway
Hokkaido Tohoku Kanto Chubu Hokuriku Kansai Chugoku Shikoku Kyushu Okinawa