Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine

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View down the stairs at Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine

Tsurugaoka (鶴岡八幡宮) is the most important shrine in the city of Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

It was originally built in 1063 near Yuigahama, and was dedicated to the Emperor Ojin, his mother Empress Jingu and his wife Hime-gami. Minamoto no Yoritomo, the founder of the Kamakura shogunate, moved it to its present location in 1191 and invited Hachiman, the God of warriors, to reside there and guard his government.

There are a number of shrines on the site, the most important of which are the Junior Shrine at the bottom, and the Senior Shrine 61 steps above. The present Senior Shrine building was constructed in 1828 by Ienari Tokugawa, the 11th Tokugawa shogun.

Cherry trees line the avenue to the shrine. The trees were ordered by Yoritomo as a prayer for the safe delivery of his first-born son. Yabusame, archery from horseback, is practiced at the shrine.

Minamoto no Sanetomo, the third Kamakura shogun, was assassinated on February 13, 1219 by an archer hiding behind the great ginkgo tree that still stands beside the great staircase at the shrine.