Hachiman Shrine Main Hall (Hazu, Takarazuka): A Shingle-Roofed Sanctuary of 1403
The Hachiman Shrine Main Hall (八幡神社本殿, Hachiman Jinja Honden) is a middle Muromachi-period shrine sanctuary built in 1403 at Hazu Hachiman Jinja (波豆八幡神社) in Hazu, Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture, and it was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan on 26 March 1915. It is a three-bay Nagare-zukuri building roofed in Kokerabuki, thin wooden shingles, and the designation covers 1 building.
The national database lists the property simply as "Hachiman Shrine Main Hall," owned by "Hachiman Shrine." Takarazuka has a second Important Cultural Property with exactly the same name, in Nakasuji, so local guides add the district: Hazu Hachiman Jinja. The shrine stands beside the Sengari reservoir in the rural north of the city.
History and Significance of the Hachiman Shrine Main Hall in Hazu
Takarazuka City's cultural heritage map says the shrine honors Homudawake no Mikoto (Emperor Ojin) and is said to have been founded by Minamoto no Mitsumasa, younger brother of the warrior Minamoto no Mitsunaka. The Hyogo Shrine Association records the same tradition, that Mitsumasa retired to Hazu late in life and enshrined Hachiman here, and states that the main hall was rebuilt in 1403.
A securely dated early 15th-century sanctuary is the heart of the Hachiman Shrine Main Hall's value. The Hyogo Prefecture Hanshin-Kita regional office's tourism guide describes it as an unusually large shingle-roofed three-bay nagare-zukuri hall and says it is considered the oldest example with doors opening in both gable ends. The Takarazuka International Tourism Association adds that the building keeps its original state well.
The precinct also holds stone monuments designated by Hyogo Prefecture. The stone torii facing the reservoir carries an inscription of 1425, close in date to the hall. At the west end of the grounds stand a stone stupa plaque, five-ring pagoda and hokyointo pagoda brought from Konpukuji, a temple on the slope east of the shrine that was submerged when the reservoir was built.
What to Look For
Start with the roof. Kokerabuki is laid from many small, thin boards, and it gives a crisper edge than cypress bark. On a nagare-zukuri hall the front slope runs long and low over the entrance, and the banded texture of the shingles is easiest to read from an angle rather than straight on.
Then walk to the side and look at the gable ends. The doors in both gables mentioned by the regional guide set the Hachiman Shrine Main Hall apart from the usual nagare-zukuri plan, where the only doors face front. Looking back from the precinct, you can also see how the stone torii stands facing the water.
Visiting the Hachiman Shrine Main Hall in Hazu
The Hachiman Shrine Main Hall stands in the grounds of Hazu Hachiman Jinja, and the exterior can be viewed from the precinct. No admission fee is listed, and there is no published information on interior access or photography, so visit quietly; this is a local community shrine. The Hyogo Shrine Association gives the annual festival day as 15 October.
The Hanshin-Kita regional tourism guide gives the route as the Hankyu Denen Bus from Hankyu Takarazuka Station bound for Hazu, getting off at Hazu and walking about 5 minutes, and notes that parking is available. Buses in northern Takarazuka are infrequent, so check the timetable before you go.
Q&A
- When was the Hachiman Shrine Main Hall in Hazu, Takarazuka built?
- In 1403, in the middle Muromachi period. It was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1915.
- Is the Hachiman Shrine Main Hall the same as Hazu Hachiman Jinja?
- Yes. The register name is Hachiman Shrine Main Hall; locals call the shrine Hazu Hachiman Jinja to distinguish it from the same-named hall in Nakasuji.
- What makes the Hachiman Shrine Main Hall in Hazu special?
- It is a large shingle-roofed three-bay nagare-zukuri sanctuary, said by the regional tourism guide to be the oldest example with doors in both gable ends.
- Can I see the Hachiman Shrine Main Hall in Hazu, and is there a fee?
- The exterior can be viewed from the grounds. No fee is listed and no interior openings are announced.
- How do I get to the Hachiman Shrine Main Hall in Hazu?
- Take the Hankyu Denen Bus from Hankyu Takarazuka Station to the Hazu stop, then walk about 5 minutes. Parking is reported to be available.
Basic Information
| Name | Hachiman Shrine Main Hall (Hazu Hachiman Jinja) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2 Hazu, Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property |
| Year Designated | 1915 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Three-bay nagare-zukuri (published measurements not confirmed) |
| Owner | Hachiman Shrine |
| Public Access | Exterior viewable from the grounds (no interior opening announced) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Hachiman Jinja Honden (Hazu, Takarazuka)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/2372
- Takarazuka City: Cultural Heritage Walking Map (2022)
- https://www.city.takarazuka.hyogo.jp/_res/projects/default_project/_page_/001/025/931/2022sanpomap.pdf
- Hyogo Shrine Association: Hazu Hachiman Jinja
- https://www.hyogo-jinjacho.com/data/6303020.html
- Hyogo Prefecture Hanshin-Kita Regional Office tourism guide: Hazu Hachiman Jinja
- https://visithanshin.jp/spot/586/
- Takarazuka International Tourism Association: Main Hall of Hazu Hachiman Jinja
- https://kanko-takarazuka.jp/view100/detail.php?id=65
Last verified: 2026.10.04