Kadode Hachiman-Gu 首途八幡宮 | Kyoto-shi, Kamigyo-ku

Kyoto-fu, Kyoto-shi, Kamigyo-ku, Sakurai-cho 102−1 京都府京都市上京区桜井町102−1

August 31, 2021

首途八幡宮

Kadode Hachiman-Gu

homepage: (Japanese)

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Nearest station: Imadegawa Line: Karasuma (K06)

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Enshrined Kami:

Main

Hondawake-no-Mikoto 誉田別命

Himegami 比咩大神

Okinagatarashi-hime-no-Mikoto 息長帯姫命

From Merged Shrines

None

In-ground Shrines:

Benten-Sha 弁天社

Annual Festival: September 15

This is the twenty-seventh of my ex post facto shrine reports. I visited it in October 2010

The original name of this shrine was Uchino Hachiman-Gu and its Kami were ceremoniously transferred from the Usa Hachiman-Gu.

In 1170 or so, after Minamoto Yoshistune had left Mt. Kuramai he fell in with Kaneuri Kichiji, a merchant who made a living trading gold mined in Oshu in Kyoto who had been a good friend of his father, Yoshitomo. Kaneuri’s residence was near Uchino Hachiman-Gu. Minamoto planned travelling to Hiraizumi in Mutsu Province to meet Fujiwara no Hidehira and it is said that he prayed at the shrine for a safe journey. One of the meanings of Kadode is “departure” and Uchino Hachiman-Gu was thereafter known as Kadode Hachiman-Gu. In 1174 Yoshistune linked up with Fujiwara, who in 1181 became the Governor of Mutsu Province.

According to the shrine legend, its location near to the inauspicious northeast corner of the Imperial Palace caused it to regarded, and highly revered, partiularly by the Empresses, as the spiritual guardian of the Palace.

According to the shrine legend, its location near to the inauspicious northeast corner of the Imperial Palace caused it to regarded, and highly revered, as the spiritual guardian of the Palace.

The remains of the residence of Crown Prince Sadasumi-shinnō (桃薗親王), the sixth child of the Emperor Seiwa (清和天皇,850-881) are also in the area.

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