Miyake Hachimangu Shrine — Attraction in Kyoto

Miyake Hachimangu Shrine 三宅八幡宮 : Miyake Hachimangu Shrine’s deity has a connection with Ono no Imoko who has established this shrine. This shrine is commonly called “Mushi-Hachiman-san” by some locals in thios area. This diety is well known for its benefit of relieving convulsions that affect children.

Its legend goes that he once became sick but cured after praying at Usa Hachimangu Shrine in Oita Prefecture and his series of achevements continued afterwards. So he later made his request to transfer the deity of the shrine to the present location in order to express his gratitude. This area is also known as a place where Ono clan resided in the past.

This shrine is known for its guardian deity for children and its benefit of relieving the convulsions in children. In another way also known for its power to provide protection against harmful insects.

三宅八幡宮は、京都府京都市左京区上高野にある神社である。御利益は子供の守り神としてかんの虫封じ、夜泣き、安産、学業成就の他、虫退治の神として害虫駆除にも効果があるとされ、別名『虫八幡』とも呼ばれる。

Ono no Imoko was a Japanese politician and diplomat in the late 6th and early 7th century, during the Asuka period. Ono was appointed by Empress Suiko as an official envoy (Kenzuishi) to the Sui court in 607 (Imperial embassies to China), and he delivered the famous letter from Japan's Prince Shotoku. Ono no Imoko's family was notable for linguistics and scholarship, and the descendants of the family include Ono no Komachi who was a beautiful female poet.

This shrine is also known as a play ground of doves. Pigeons are thought to be the messenger of the shrine deity. You can see many kinds of pigeons (stone statue pegion, wooden votive tablet, etc.) in the precinct. These cute souvenir lucky charms are sold. They wear gold necklace on their neck. One on the left is a male dove and the other one on the right is the female.

This place also provide nice Sakura view in spring and fall foliage in autumn.

They hold a large festival on 14th and 15th in September. There is a nice pond with a fountain built on the side of a small mountain. In the pricinct : spacious ground space with beautiful landscape surrounded in nature full of green. There is a pond withnatural waterfall as this shrine is a point where the mountainous water flow through. This type of landscape formation is called " shakkei = Borrowed landscape " which makes perfect harmony with surrounding nature. このように周辺の景色とうまく調和する風景を借景と呼びます。

( Trans-word+ : TGM...

Must-visit for pigeon lovers. The shrine has very cute decorations and statues of pigeons. It also sells pigeon-themed souvenirs. The fountain garden near the entrance is beautiful in autumn.

I also tried the pigeon mochi at a teahouse run by two very friendly and kind-hearted ladies. There was also a nice Japanese man who helped to explain the cultural background of the shrine in English to me - he said he had moved to Kyoto from Yokohama and has since become a regular at this shrine, and the de facto English translator. One interesting fact he shared was that the kanji for eight 八 looks like two pigeons, which is why the shrine is named Hachiman 八幡 (also a Hindu god) and dedicated to pigeons.

Even for non-pigeon lovers, I highly recommend this shrine as it is very quaint and serene (didn't see any tourists) and the walk there from the bus stop has very nice scenery...

This Shinto Shrine has a long and interesting as a spiritual place of worship for Japanese people for over 1,000years. The priests are very kind and the location is surrounded by...