Hachiōji-sha

What it is

• A maritime shrine established in 1288 on Shinojima island.
• Dedicated to deities providing protection for shipbuilding and seafaring.
• Considered a male shrine paired with the nearby Shinmei Shrine.
• Reconstructed every twenty years using materials from the Ise Grand Shrine cycle.

What to see

• The main shrine building built from recycled sacred timber.
• A historic lion head mask donated to the site in 1517.
• A traditional daimyo procession during the major annual festival.

When to go

• January for the annual festival featuring the Ojinji-sama deity transfer.
• Nighttime during the festival when island electricity is cut for the ritual.

Getting there

• The shrine is accessible by foot from the Shinojima Ferry Terminal.

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.