Hachiman shrine
A Hachiman shrine (八幡神社, Hachiman Jinja, also Hachimangū (八幡宮?)
) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to kami Hachiman. It is the second most numerous type of Shinto shrine after those dedicated to Inari (see Inari Shrine).
Originally the name was read Yawata or Yahata, a reading still used in some cases. Many towns and cities incorporating the names Hachiman, Yawata or Yahata grew around these shrines.
Famous Hachiman shrines
The following four shrines are often grouped into groups of three, either as Usa-Iwashimizu-Hakozaki or Usa-Iwashimizu-Tsurugaoka, and both of these groupings are known as the Three Major Hachiman Shrines of Japan (三大八幡宮).
Usa Shrine 宇佐神宮 (Usa, Ōita) -- Sōhonsha (the head shrine) of Hachiman Shrines.
Iwashimizu Shrine 岩清水八幡宮 (Yawata, Kyoto)
Hakozaki Shrine 筥崎宮 (Fukuoka)
Tsurugaoka Hachimangū 鶴岡八幡宮 (Kamakura, Kanagawa)
Other notable Hachiman shrines
Hakodate Hachiman Shrine 函館八幡宮 (Hakodate, Hokkaido)
Hatogamine Hachiman Shrine 鳩峰八幡神社 (Tokorozawa, Saitama)
Morioka Hachiman Shrine 盛岡八幡宮 (Morioka, Iwate)
