Iwashimizu Hachiman-gu Shrine — Attraction in Yawata

Last Saturday (January 24), it was such a fine day here in Kyoto, that I couldn’t resist biking to the Yawata area of Kyoto and pay a visit to the Iwashimizu Hachiman-gū shrine (石清水八幡宮) on Mt. Otokoyama (男山). Although it was near the end of January many people were still coming to the shrine to celebrate Hatsumōde (初詣). As I entered the shrine grounds, sacred kagura music was being played, while a shrine maiden or Miko performed a purification ceremony. She was purifying Hamaya arrows. They are “demon-breaking arrows” and many people bought them to ward off misfortune and attract good luck. In the other hand she was holding a Kagura suzu or “divine entertainment bells”, while the flute and drum accompanied her. Iwashimizu Hachiman-gū is like a fortress on a hill with a scenic view of the Yawata area. The shrine was founded in 859 by the monk Gyōkyō (行教) and is dedicated to “Hachiman” the god of war. The present Honden (本殿) was built by the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, in 1634. Many Emperors and Shogun’s visited here to pray for success in the many battles they fought. Until this day the Iwashimizu Hachiman-gū is one of the three most important Hachiman shrines in Japan. It was also the head shrine of the Minamoto clan. Minamoto no Yorinobu, in 1046 as governor of Kawachi, began worship at the Iwashimizu Hachiman-gū Shrine. Iwashimizu Hachiman-gū has an interesting connection to the life and work of Thomas Edison, who used bamboo collected from the groves at the shrine by his assistant William H. Moore to make filaments for his first electric light bulb in 1880. After visiting the shrine don’t forget to visit the observatory to get a splendid view of the...

Iwashimizu hachimangu was established in 859 in Yawata City in the south part of Kyoto Prefecture in a sacred ground where three large river of Kizu, Uji, Yodo meets. Resting on the top of Mt. Otokoyama known as a battle field of ancient times, the shrine serves itself as a guardian to protect the area. Original purpose of its establishment was to offer protection to the Emperor of Japan and late it turned into a grand shrine. The current form of the shrine was constructed in the time of Tokugawa Shogunate in 17th century. Its sophisticated decoration maked spectacular appearance built in a style of Hachiman zukuri. The shrine is very active with sacred rituals being held at a constant routine. There is a historical connection with Thomas Edison with this shrine since he collected fiber of bamboo grown in its precincts to make the very first light bulb for the shrine in 1880. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes of small hiking to reach the top of the mountain. There also is an observation point where you can command a panoramic view of the city.

You can take a cable car to the top of the mountain from the nearby station. ( Trans-word+ : TGM...

High above the city, where the wind carries whispers of history through the trees, I found something quietly sacred — Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine.

Riding the cable car up the forested slopes of Mount Otokoyama, I felt like I was being lifted not just through nature, but through time. At the top, the shrine stood with quiet dignity — centuries of prayer and presence carved into every beam and stone.

The moment I stepped beneath the towering torii gate, a stillness settled in my chest. The bustle of the world below faded. Only the soft rustle of leaves, the chirp of birds, and the crisp Kyoto air remained.

I wandered the grounds slowly, tracing the contours of the ancient buildings, marveling at the harmony between architecture and earth. The main hall, a national treasure, stood as if it had always belonged to the mountain itself.

It wasn't just a visit. It felt like a conversation — between the soul and something far greater.

I came looking for tradition. I...